Azerbaijan has established local rifle production in cooperation with Israeli arms manufacturer Ari Arms. The new factory manufactures rifles based on the AR-15 platform. Its opening in early October 2026, attended by President Ilham Aliyev, marks another step in military-industrial cooperation between the two countries.
The manufacturing facility was established through cooperation between Ari Arms and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defence Industry. The plant produces the OR-4 model, which is based on the Western AR-15 platform. According to available information, this is the first production of Western-designed rifles in Azerbaijan.
The facility is intended to establish domestic industrial manufacturing capacity. Ari Arms is a subsidiary of AS Holidays. Through the project, the company aims to expand domestic production and strengthen Azerbaijan’s industrial independence.
President Ilham Aliyev also attended the official opening ceremony in early October 2026. No further details were provided regarding production capacity, output figures, or the planned share of locally sourced components.
Israel Is a Major Arms Supplier
Rifle production expands an already established defence relationship. Israel is one of Azerbaijan’s major suppliers of weapons systems. In recent years, Israeli defence companies have sold systems worth several billion US dollars to the country. These include unmanned aerial vehicles, loitering munitions, and precision-guided missiles.
Israeli weapons technology has also been used in the conflicts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war and the fighting in 2023. Azerbaijan deployed various Israeli systems on a significant scale during these conflicts.
The systems involved include the LORA ground-to-ground ballistic missile developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). IAI’s Harop loitering munition was also used. In addition, various systems manufactured by Israeli company UVision were deployed.
Cooperation Extends Beyond Arms Deliveries
With local rifle manufacturing, the partnership extends beyond the procurement of Israeli weapons systems. The project is intended to develop industrial capabilities directly within Azerbaijan. Further details about planned next steps, including whether production will eventually be expanded to other types of weapons, have not yet been disclosed.
The new manufacturing facility therefore represents a closer integration of Israeli defence technology with Azerbaijan’s defence industry. Alongside the import of complex weapons systems, the development of domestic production capabilities is gaining additional importance.
Author: Arie Egozi, Israel Correspondent
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