Israeli Arbel Anti-Drone System Enters East Asia Through Thailand Deal
Israeli Arbel Anti-Drone System Enters East Asia Through Thailand Deal
BANGKOK, October 24, 2026 — Thailand has procured the Israeli-made Arbel anti-drone system from Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), marking what is reported to be the system’s first operational deployment in East Asia, according to Israeli financial newspaper Globes.
The report said IWI was also discussing additional Arbel orders with other military bodies in Thailand, while negotiations were underway with potential customers elsewhere in the region. Further agreements could be reached within the next few months.
Rifle-Mounted Technology Targets Small Drones
Arbel is a computerised trigger-control system designed to improve shooting accuracy against targets, including small tactical drones. It allows soldiers to focus on tracking moving targets rather than repeatedly manipulating a rifle’s trigger.
The system fires its first round mechanically when the trigger is pulled. If the trigger remains depressed, Arbel regulates the firing rate at what IWI describes as an optimal level, potentially helping operators engage difficult targets more effectively.
Unlike counter-drone systems that rely on separate platforms or specialised external sensors, Arbel is integrated into an individual soldier’s weapon and does not require additional external equipment. IWI says operators need only brief training to use it.
The system features a plug-and-play design that allows the lower receiver of a compatible existing rifle to be replaced with one containing Arbel technology. Soldiers can continue using familiar weapons and standard 5.56mm ammunition.
It can also operate with different sighting systems, including reflex, telescopic, thermal and night-vision equipment, depending on the weapon configuration.
Thailand Opts to Upgrade Existing Rifles
IWI offers Arbel either as an integrated feature in its own firearms or as a conversion for customers’ existing rifles. According to Globes, Thailand’s Ministry of Defence selected the latter option, with IWI teams replacing the lower receivers of existing weapons.
The purchase comes amid defence cooperation between Thailand and Israeli arms manufacturers. During the Thailand-Cambodia escalation less than a year ago, Israeli-made firearms, including the Tavor X95, Galil ACE 23-N and Negev, were reportedly seen on the front line.
IWI is part of SK Group, owned by Israeli businessman Sammy Katsav. The group also includes Meprolight, Camero-Tech, Israel Shipyards and Greek defence company ELVO. According to the report, the group employs approximately 2,000 people and supplies products to more than 60 countries.
“Small tactical drones have become a direct and growing threat to combatants on the battlefield,” SK Group Vice Chairman Ronen Hamudot said. He added that Arbel was developed to give soldiers an effective means of defence against the threat.
Regional Security Concerns Drive Defence Investment
Thailand’s reported procurement comes as Asian countries increase defence spending amid growing security concerns, including tensions involving China and Thailand’s border dispute with Cambodia.
Thailand already operates Israeli defence systems, including Elbit Hermes unmanned aerial vehicles and the Barak MX air-defence system. The latter was reportedly sold to Thailand last year in a deal valued at 3.44 billion baht.
The country also operates Chinese military equipment. The report said Thailand had expressed dissatisfaction with the reliability of its Chinese-made VT-4 tanks, while reportedly considering older US- and Ukrainian-origin tanks more dependable.
Japan is expected to be a major driver of future defence spending in Asia. Its defence budget increased by approximately 25% between 2020 and 2026, rising from about US$48 billion to US$60 billion amid concerns about China’s military activities.
Thailand’s acquisition of Arbel reflects the growing interest in technologies designed to counter small drones, which have become an increasingly significant threat on modern battlefields.
