Seeking local production, Israel to buy new assault rifles

JERUSALEM — Israel plans to buy “tens of thousands” of assault rifles from local businesses as part of a “requirement to renew and strengthen the [Israel Defense Forces’] stockpile of weapons,” the Defense Ministry announced this week.

The push to ensure independent production of weapons comes as the Biden administration says the U.S. is working on a deal aimed at securing at least a six-week halt to hostilities and releasing all hostages.

A spokesman for the ministry said the call for local weapons does not represent a policy change. The ministry noted “the procurement of American weapons will also continue.”

But retired Brig. Gen. Amir Avivi, chairman and founder of the Israel Defense And Security Forum, which works to promote Israel’s weapons production, has a different view.

“The defense leadership already understands that the State of Israel cannot afford to depend on others in terms of armaments,” Avivi said. “Besides what Israel has experienced since Oct. 7, the Russia-Ukraine war also strengthens this thesis.”

He noted Ukraine, which has relied on foreign aid, has been in a challenging position.

“Israel is paying the price for neglecting its own production capacity,” Avivi explained. “Now it has a desire to bridge over the gaps.”

“It starts with a tender for assault rifles, and will continue to shells and missiles,” he added.

Two domestic companies — Israel Weapon Industries in central Israel and Emtan from the northern part — manufacture assault rifles from the AR-15 family and may compete. Neither could immediately be reached for comment.

The new procurement is intended to replace rifles worn out in the war against Hamas . The chosen would join the current inventory, which includes, among others, the M16 and Tavor rifles.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tzally Greenberg is the Israel correspondent for Defense News. He has experience reporting on economic affairs as well as defense and cyber companies.

耶路撒冷——以色列国防部本周宣布，以色列计划从当地企业购买“数万支”突击步枪，作为“更新和加强以色列国防军武器库的需要”。

在拜登政府表示美国正在努力达成一项旨在确保至少六周内停止敌对行动并释放所有人质的协议之际，推动武器独立生产的呼声日益高涨。

该部发言人表示，呼吁采购国产武器并不代表政策改变。该部还指出，“采购美国武器也将继续进行”。

但致力于促进以色列武器生产的以色列国防与安全论坛主席兼创始人、退役准将阿米尔·阿维维却持不同观点。

阿维维表示：“国防领导层已经意识到，以色列在武器装备方面不能依赖其他国家。除了以色列自10月7日以来所经历的一切之外，俄乌战争也进一步强化了这一论点。”

他指出，依赖外国援助的乌克兰一直处于艰难的处境。

“以色列正在为忽视自身产能付出代价，”阿维维解释说。“现在它渴望弥补产能缺口。”

“首先是突击步枪的招标，然后还会扩展到炮弹和导弹，”他补充道。

以色列国内两家公司——位于中部的以色列武器工业公司和位于北部的埃姆坦公司——都生产AR-15系列突击步枪，它们之间可能存在竞争关系。记者未能立即联系到这两家公司置评。

此次新采购旨在替换在打击哈马斯战争中磨损的步枪。选定的步枪将加入现有库存，其中包括M16和塔沃尔步枪等。

美联社对本报道亦有贡献。

扎利·格林伯格是《防务新闻》的以色列记者。他拥有丰富的经济事务以及国防和网络安全公司报道经验。