The United States Department of Defense has awarded a $12.93 million firm-fixed-price contract to Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC to produce M4A1 carbines, suppressors, and flash hiders, with procurement funded through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program for Israel.
Under the terms of the contract, work will be carried out at Colt’s facility in West Hartford, Connecticut, with an estimated completion date of June 30. The US Army Contracting Command in New Jersey is overseeing the project.
The acquisition of additional M4A1 carbines, the standard-issue rifle for many US and allied forces, reflects Israel’s ongoing efforts to bolster its infantry readiness amid persistent regional threats. Known for its compact size and adaptability across various mission profiles, it is suited for units engaged in urban and low-visibility environments.
The M4A1 is designed for reliability, modularity, and compatibility with a wide range of accessories, and has been used for years in IDF infantry units. The weapon is a 5.56×45mm NATO, select-fire carbine featuring a 14.5-inch barrel and a wide range of optics, accessories, and support equipment.
Local manufacturing
In December, the Defense Ministry’s procurement division launched a local tender to purchase tens of thousands of assault rifles to replace the US-made M4. While Israel manufactures its own variants of the M4 and Tavor family, FMS procurements from the United States provide logistical continuity and ensure interoperability with American systems.
While the M4A1 has been the weapon of choice for allied troops around the world, the US Army will be equipping frontline units with new rifles and machine guns under the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program. The SIG Sauer XM7 and the XM250 light machine gun are said to be taking over from the M4A1, with both using 6.8x51mm .277 Fury caliber, allowing for greater range and increased lethality.
The move to purchase new M4A1s comes despite Israel announcing that it would procure domestically manufactured weaponry after decades of reliance on foreign procurement, especially the United States. The decision was made as the IDF was embattled in the Gaza Strip and arms embargoes were preventing critical weaponry from reaching troops.
Then-Defense Ministry director general Maj.-Gen. Eyal Zamir (now IDF chief of staff), described it as a “large-scale strategic move designed to ensure the IDF’s war machine continues to advance. We are investing and will continue to invest tens of billions in building infrastructure and capabilities, expanding production lines, establishing new lines, and purchasing inventories to solidify production independence.”