IWI US ARAD-5 – a New Piston-Driven Rifle on the Civilian Market

Originally introduced by Israel’s IWI as a military weapon, the ARAD rifles are now entering the civilian market for the first time in a dedicated variant thanks to IWI US, a manufacturer known among other things for the Zion-15 line. Although the ARAD-5 may at first glance resemble yet another AR-15, it is in fact a design with significant modifications to the receiver, including an easy barrel-change system. The Stoner system has been replaced with a short-stroke gas-piston system.

At launch, the rifle will be available with a 16-inch barrel. / Photos: IWI US

The ARAD-5 rifle’s short-stroke gas-piston system features a two-position adjustable gas setting: standard mode and suppressor mode. Importantly, the system can be disassembled for cleaning without removing the handguard. According to the instructions, it is enough to remove the regulator and then slide the piston together with the return spring out through the gas block.

The entire ARAD-5 upper receiver differs significantly from that of a standard AR-15. It is noticeably extended and features a much longer Picatinny rail section, allowing for stable mounting of optoelectronic attachments or various types of aiming devices. Attached to the receiver is a long handguard whose top Picatinny rail forms one continuous mounting surface with the rail on the receiver. M-LOK mounting slots are positioned at the 3, 4, and 6 o’clock positions, while the remaining surface is dedicated to ventilation openings.

A distinguishing feature of the ARAD-5 is its easy barrel-change system, which involves unlocking and then rotating a special screw by 180 degrees.

The lower receiver is fully compatible with standard M4-pattern accessories, giving the user a wide choice of proven components. It comes standard with B5 Systems furniture.

The IWI US ARAD-5 rifle is a civilian variant of a weapon with military origins, designed with ease of use, reliability, and modularity in mind. It should appeal to those who practice defensive or practical shooting, as well as competitors taking part in demanding military-style matches. Its greatest advantage is the short-stroke gas-piston system, which has many supporters in both the sporting and professional segments. The market for so-called “piston-driven” rifles has just gained a serious new competitor from a manufacturer whose reputation was built in part on the Zion family of rifles.

The official distributor of IWI US in Poland is Jammas (Strefa Celu, Centrum Strzeleckie Jammas), which regularly expands its offering with new products. The ARAD-5 is a very recent release, and as of the date this article was written, we had not obtained even an approximate date for its arrival in Poland. Any updates will be published on an ongoing basis. Stay tuned!

ARAD-5 on IWI US website

IWI products available in Strefa Celu shop

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