IsraelDefense has learned that last June, the Israeli Ministry of Defense issued a tender for the supply of 20,000 Israeli-made M4 assault rifles to the IDF. The tender is structured in two lots: one for 14,000 rifles and another for 6,000 rifles, to allow two different companies to fulfill the order.

The tender is still in its preliminary stages, and trials and tests of the offered rifles have not yet commenced. A decision on which two companies will supply the rifles to the IDF is expected by the end of the year.

Given the current state of the market for Israeli small arms manufacturers, it is likely that at least three companies will participate in this tender: Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) with the Arad rifle, Emtan with the MZ-4 rifle, and Silver Shadow with the Gilboa rifle. No responses have been received from the companies involved regarding this item.

Image - Michael Giladi/Flash90