Kiro: When You Need to Acquire the Right Skills and Equipment for Self Defense

On October 7, Israel woke to a new reality. The savage invasion of the country's south turned the entire nation into an army. Over 300,000 reservists were called to fight in the War of Iron Swords, and at home the protection of civilian communities was massively reinforced. All this resulted in an unprecedented need for appropriate weapons. "We're having to replenish our warehouse stock on a weekly basis," says Moshe Biton, Vice President of Technology at Kiro, Inc., which produces and imports weapons accessories and tactical equipment.

Kiro Ltd. was established nine years ago by former Israel Defense Forces officers, and it is rooted in their shared decades of experience. Its founding CEOs Yaniv Zeidman and Moshe Biton manage the company, with chairman of the board, Zvi Zeidman.

Since October 7, over 250,000 requests for personal weapons have been submitted in Israel, with some 31,000 of them approved, to date. These newly licensed weapons need adjustments and accessories, such as sights, mounts and scopes — and this has created record demand for Kiro.

Kiro is not a traditional weapons manufacturer or importer — although a 2020 change in the law means that the company is officially classed an arms dealer. Its focus, however, is producing tactical equipment in its factories in Israel and around the world, according to meticulous technical specifications. With manufacture rigorous and of the highest quality to adapt its products to every situation, there is a lifetime warranty on everything Kiro produces, which enables it to undercut prices on premium products.

This formula clearly works. Kiro has clients in some 30 countries — among them, security and law enforcement agencies, stores and retail chains, firearms manufacturers, arms dealers, distributors and private citizens. It also gives its Israeli customers access to linked products from world leaders, such as Vortex Optics, Holosun, InfiRay and Olight. "In Israel, our aim is to expand the available range of weapons accessories and tactical equipment," says Biton.

"This includes projectile sights, holographic sights, telescopes, flashlights, laser pointers, night vision devices, thermals and more. Whether clients are looking to equip themselves at civilian or military level, with imported goods or those from home, we can help them."

Sophisticated, innovative and advanced solutions

Kiro seeks to lead a significant change in the world of advanced weaponry solutions. Its approach is innovative, using AI, plastic injection of unique complex materials, accurate and clean cutting with CNC machining, and high-precision molds with EDM technology. "We have an SOT-licensed sister-company in the US, authorized to manufacture, import and export weapons and accessories, and this allows trade with Israel of all equipment, from basic to heavy," notes Biton.

"Through this link with American industry, Kiro imports into Israel the entire range of special equipment traded in the world's largest private market, and thus upgrade Israel's security capabilities — for owners of personal weapons, for organizations and for national security forces. Kiro has itself developed breakthrough products now sold on world markets.

One is its rapid-loading round-drum magazine for shotguns. Another is the MorphTM conversion kit and gun accessory that turns a gun, which requires high skill to operate, into a weapon that can be used accurately by the less skillful.

Developed with shooting instructors and security personnel worldwide, it is expected to come onto the market this year. Another Kiro innovation to be available this year is a 16-round cartridge for the Glock 43X with improved ergonomics for the little finger. This is an improvement on the 15-round version, in which the cartridge latch replacement is expensive and can be troublesome.

Resembling an international brand

Kiro is currently relocating its center of activity to Israel. The thinking is to be more independent of global security and logistical issues, and to support Israeli industry.

"In collaboration with leading defense industry designers in Israel and worldwide, our targeted solutions stress weapons ergonomics, which are crucial to operational performance," explains Yaniv Zeidman. "Our emphasis over the years has been defense exports and selling Israeli products abroad, so this is a natural development for us. We'll be importing international brands and learning from leading global companies how to function as an international brand in terms of the quality of production, quality of the products and quality of the relationship with our customers.

One model which we're adopting is that of Vortex Optics, which manufactures telescopes, sights and birdwatching binoculars, popular in Israel: it swelled from 50 employees to 5,000, and recently won a $2.7 billion tender to produce next-generation squad weapon sights for the US Army."

He indicates that collaboration in the years ahead may bring cutting-edge Vortex Optics technology to Israel. While this is still under Pentagon supervision, Kiro is seeking permission to import it to Israel. "In sight is a ballistic calculator with laser rangefinder, which projects the information it gathers on an eyepiece," says Zeidman. "It's like a computer game, where you store ballistic corrections of points in space in memory, so when enemies appear at those points, the memory tells you exactly where to aim."

From the world arena to Israel

Busy as it is across the globe, Kiro responded rapidly to events in Israel, not least the very noticeable uptick in arms sought by Israelis since October 7. The 250,000 requests for gun licenses submitted since the massacre are expected to double Israel's gun population. Since the outbreak of war, security units have been set up in localities countrywide, and many have found that Kiro has what they need and delivers it fast — from butts, handles and sights, to flashlights, laser pointers and night vision devices, to thermals, protective vests and ballistic helmets. Both production and import have soared with this leap in sales volume, and Kiro has recorded an increase of over 2,500 percent in visits to its website, where tactical equipment can be directly purchased.

Kiro also sounds a warning. The events of October 7 and Israel's National Security Ministry call for citizens to arm themselves must not obscure the seriousness of owning a weapon.

"It's important that new buyers, who are still learning about appropriate accessories, don't buy from just anyone, but go to a serious, professional and responsible supplier," says Biton.

"October 7 was unprecedented and we're still reeling," says Yaniv Zeidman.

"Yes, mass arming and licensing are called for, but new buyers must acquire the skills and responsibility for using the weapons they buy."

Biton compares the situation in Israel to that in the US, "where weapons of most kinds can be easily bought. In Israel, purchasers are limited to a single personal gun. Understandably they try to accessorize that gun to make it more versatile, with more accurate sights, laser pointers, flashlights and conversion systems that simulate the use of long weapons. So we've also seen significant increase in purchase of accessories.

"The vastly increased traffic on notev.co.il, where the best of Kiro equipment is sold to the Israeli public, indicates a smart and interested audience, who want to learn new things, get additional options for each item they buy, and ensure they get the best, most efficient and most suitable weapon for their needs," he continues. "Whereas previously gunsights were the province of the army, today international leaders in the field, such as Vortex Optics and Holosun, have become excellent options for upgrading operational capabilities. Working with them and with others, we're able to offer solutions for every situation and every price."

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