As Israeli handheld weapon systems specialist IWI (Israel Weapon Industries), a subsidiary of the SK Group, announced on October 22, 2026, its Arbel Anti-Drone System (ADS) will be delivered to the Thai Ministry of Defence. After integration into the rifles already in service and on-site training by IWI, Arbel has been deployed and is now ready for operation both day and night. It is a computer-based fire-control system designed to significantly increase hit probability and lethality.
When the shooter pulls the trigger, the first shot is mechanically fired, just like with a conventional rifle. If the trigger is held down, the system controls the shot sequence at an optimal cadence. This eliminates the need for complex trigger control—one of the biggest challenges when shooting in dynamic operational scenarios—allowing the shooter to fully concentrate on target tracking and aiming. In countering drones—which are often small and fast and perform unpredictable flight maneuvers—the Arbel ADS automates follow-up shots.
This enables precise and reproducible engagement procedures, even under high pressure. The system provides soldiers with an effective long-range drone defense capability, in a variety of mission scenarios. Unlike other drone-defense systems that require specialized platforms or sensors, the Arbel ADS can be integrated directly into the soldier’s existing weapon—without additional equipment or the need for new training.
Integration by IWI Directly in Thailand
Thanks to the “Plug-and-Play” concept, soldiers can continue to use their familiar weapons with standard ammunition in 5.56 mm caliber without having to learn a new system. Since the Arbel ADS operates independently of optics, it is compatible with a wide range of sighting systems—from red dot sights and variable low-power magnification riflescopes (LPVOs) to thermal imaging and night-vision devices. It thus adapts seamlessly to the shooter’s preferred setup.
“Small tactical drones pose an immediate and growing threat to soldiers on the battlefield. We developed the Arbel ADS to give soldiers an effective means to defend against this continuously evolving threat and at the same time to provide the armed forces with a decisive tactical advantage in an increasingly complex operating environment,” explains Ronen Hamudot, Vice Chairman of the SK Group.
IWI offers two procurement options for the Arbel ADS: either as part of a rifle completely manufactured by IWI or by retrofitting existing customer weapons. The Thai Ministry of Defence chose the latter: IWI carried out the integration directly in Thailand by replacing the lower receiver of the rifle with the Arbel ADS. This approach enables armed forces to upgrade their existing weapons locally, without having to replace the entire weapons stock or procure entirely new weapons.
Arbel: Weapon (Support) System for AR-15 and MGs
Thus, Thailand is the first active user of the Arbel system outside Israel. Procurement processes are also underway in other Southeast Asian countries, at different stages. In the coming months, further implementations are expected. “As armed forces in Southeast Asia increasingly rely on drone-defense capabilities, Thailand’s introduction of the Arbel ADS reflects this growing operational priority. We are observing across the region a rising demand for solutions that can help soldiers meet this challenge,” said Doron Korol, Vice President of the SK Group and head of the Asia-Pacific region.
It is the ancient maxim in firefights: he who shoots faster and hits better wins! Speed and precision play a decisive role. With IWI Arbel, Israel Weapon Industries aims to modernize and digitalize this timeless rule. The shooter should be able to deliver a good to near-perfect shot in all situations, under stress, time pressure, and fatigue. Arbel is meant to avoid and compensate for errors, but not to replace the shooter. It is a support or assistive system that helps the soldier prevent mistakes and improve firing performance.
Important: Arbel is a support system and not to be compared with systems such as SMASH from Smart Shooter or other Fire Control Systems (FCS). The computer-based system is said by IWI to redefine the benchmarks in the small arms sector. It is offered for machine guns (7.62×51 and 5.56×45 mm) and AR-15 rifles. In addition to IWI hand-held weapons, also for platforms from other manufacturers. IWI explicitly offers collaborations with other small arms manufacturers here.
Integration into Any Handheld Firearm Platform
According to IWI, Arbel can be integrated into any handheld firearm platform and is one of the few systems that does not require special optical components to function. It is computer-controlled and detects the shooter’s original grip, handling, and stance using complex algorithms and motion sensors. The system learns the shooter’s behavior, not through artificial intelligence (AI), but through the motion sensors.
Arbel features an electronic trigger and, in addition to the existing safety and fire selector settings, in addition to Safe, Semi, and Auto, introduces the new fire mode called “Arbel.” In this mode, after the target has been detected, the shooter only needs to actuate the trigger and keep it pressed. Each time he reacquires the target, Arbel issues a precise shot.
Arbel monitors the movements of the weapon, the trigger status, and recognizes the tactical scenario as well as the target patterns of the user. Within milliseconds, the complex MEMS algorithm (microelectromechanical system) determines the optimal moment for firing. Once the trigger is kept pressed after the first regular shot, Arbel analyzes the shooter’s behavior and fires when there is a high probability of hitting — it detects the Center of Target and adjusts the cadence accordingly.
Minimal Training Required
The possibility of an “initial shot” is always available. The shooter at all times retains full control of the weapon. The “Safe” and “Full Auto” functionalities continue to operate as with the standard version of the handheld weapon. If Arbel ever fails, the weapon can still be used as usual. If the system is damaged or fails, no shot is fired automatically; safety is always guaranteed.
With the integrated lithium-ion battery (110-220-volt AC), the weapon remains ready for up to 50 hours when the fire selector is in the “Arbel” position. The battery is field-replaceable and can be charged with a 12-28-volt DC charger. The built-in status indicator shows the charge level and warns when the battery is low. The weight of the system for a machine gun is about 900 grams – including the battery. Arbel also features a self-test, the status of which is indicated by LEDs. This system can also be used for training.
The battery for the MG variant is located in the grip, for the AR-15 platforms the battery is integrated into the shoulder stock. This also ensures minimal training requirements. Even untrained shooters, after a brief briefing, shoot almost like a “precision shooter.” In a range test, it was shown that the ratio of Auto-Mode (full-auto) to Arbel-Mode over ten rounds is two to nine hits. Not only is the hit rate significantly better, but the engagement time of targets is also reduced — down to 0.5 seconds for ten rounds.
Significantly Increased Lethality
This significantly increases lethality. The higher hit rate also reduces ammunition consumption and thus eases logistics for ammunition. Shorter combat times also mean a reduction in logistics for supplying soldiers with food and other supplies. In addition to improving hit results, even under stress and fatigue, Arbel also helps on the battlefield to exploit the short time windows (windows of opportunity) in which a target is today recognizable and fightable in combat.
Thanks to ballistic body protection, engaging an opponent today often requires more than a single hit. Here as well, the improved hit result is decisive. For machine guns, a long burst is possible, instead of the previously practiced short bursts, and yet the hit rate is better. The weapon’s windage/noise or drift becomes irrelevant for stationary targets, as the weapon no longer wanders. The shooter only has to pull the trigger once, thereby eliminating the error rate.
