Israel Weapon Industries says four Asian countries are currently at different stages of procuring its Arbel Anti-Drone System, and that it conducted several Arbel demonstrations in Southeast Asian countries this year. The company did not identify the other countries. Breaking Defense reports on IWI’s regional procurement activity and demonstrations.
The newly reported regional interest follows Thailand’s deployment of the system, which IWI said was operational for day and night use after integration into existing rifles and on-site training. Breaking Defense reports that IWI is also discussing additional Thai orders, but does not provide a system quantity or performance result from operational use. Breaking Defense describes the company’s account of Thailand’s deployment.
The Thai configuration is an upgrade to weapons already in service rather than a new rifle inventory. Janes reports that IWI installed Arbel in Thai M4 rifles by replacing their lower receivers, with delivery and installation completed in June 2026. The company has not disclosed the number of systems, contract value, service branch or operating unit. Janes reports the Thai configuration and deployment limits.
The documented control loop remains operator-driven. Janes describes Arbel as a computerized fire-control system intended to help rifle users engage small, moving unmanned aircraft: the first round fires mechanically, and while the user keeps the trigger pressed, the system controls the timing of subsequent shots. It uses standard 5.56 mm ammunition and does not require a dedicated sight, according to IWI’s account reported by Janes.
That evidence supports a rifle-mounted fire-control aid fielded for Thai military use, not an autonomous counter-drone platform. The fetched reports do not establish independent target detection, autonomous engagement decisions, a successful intercept or combat effectiveness. The regional demonstrations and procurement discussions show interest, but they do not by themselves establish performance in operational engagements.