Israel Police Faces Critical Ammunition Shortage for Arad 7 Rifles

Approximately two and a half years after the Israel Police acquired Arad 7 marksman rifles, which are also used by elite and special units, it has been revealed that the ammunition stockpile for these weapons has reached an unusually low level, with only about 2,000 rounds remaining in police warehouses.

Now, with reserves critically depleted, the police are seeking to carry out an urgent procurement of approximately 130,000 rounds—65 times the remaining quantity. This shortage raises serious questions regarding the planning and management of the police's ammunition inventory, especially during a sensitive security period when an escalation or flare-up scenario could rapidly lead to increased ammunition consumption by operational units.

The weapons were acquired about two and a half years ago and entered service in police units, including special forces. However, despite the time that has elapsed since their purchase and operational deployment, only now, as the stockpile has dwindled to roughly 2,000 rounds, is the police force requesting large-scale and urgent procurement.

Police officials explain the extraordinary drop in inventory as the result of what is defined as a professional conceptual shift and increased ammunition consumption, referring, among other things, to gunfire directed at illegal immigrants attempting to infiltrate into Israel. Marksman ammunition is intended for forces required to maintain precise shooting capabilities during operational events, and in a scenario of sudden security deterioration—such as multiple fronts or prolonged activity—a limited stockpile could quickly become a critical operational vulnerability.