Israel Weapon Industries & Artillerie Inrichtingen Armaments to cooperate on local manufacturing in the Netherlands

Tilburg, Netherlands – IWI (Israel Weapon Industries), an SK Group company and global leader in small arms manufacturing, and Artillerie Inrichtingen Armaments (AIA), a Netherlands-based defense company, are planning to establish local manufacturing and assembly of IWI weapons and systems in the Netherlands, combining Israeli defense technology and expertise with Dutch industrial capacity.

Under the planned cooperation, AIA will manufacture and assemble two IWI weapon platforms in a factory to be established in the Netherlands: the ARAD 5 rifle and the NEGEV UX. IWI will provide the underlying technology, product expertise and manufacturing know-how, while AIA will establish the Dutch manufacturing operation and the infrastructure to deliver and support the products.

The planned cooperation will establish a foundation for long-term domestic production, technical expertise and lifecycle support in the Netherlands. By bringing manufacturing and assembly onshore, the initiative will advance the country’s defense industrial base and create a new model for collaboration between Dutch industry and an established international defense manufacturer.

“The future of defense manufacturing will be shaped by the ability to turn proven technology into operational capability where it is needed,” said SK Group’s Vice Chairman Ronen Hamudot. “We see this cooperation as an opportunity to bring our decades of experience developing and manufacturing weapon platforms for demanding operational environments into a new industrial setting. Our focus remains on delivering proven, reliable solutions while building the manufacturing relationships needed to serve defense and security customers over the long term.”

“A strong Dutch industrial base is fundamental to national security,” said AIA CEO Mr. Gerard Zondervan. “The Netherlands needs the ability to manufacture, develop expertise and support the defense systems on which its security depends. This cooperation is a step toward a future in which Dutch industry plays a greater role in delivering the defense capabilities our country needs.”

photo courtesy IWI