New Delhi: The Army, on Saturday, received its first batch of 2,000 Israeli Negev 7.62×51 light machine gun (LMG) that were manufactured under licence in India by the Adani Group.
Another 4,000 of these weapons are due for delivery this year under the programme, which has been executed as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, as reported by The Print.
The contract for 41,000 weapons was signed in August 2024 to replace the ageing 5.56x45mm INSAS LMGs.
The Negev is an advanced weapon, originally designed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI). It is now manufactured at the Adani Group’s facility in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. This happened after the group acquired PLR Systems – IWI’s local partner for small arms manufacturing in India since 2016 – turning it into a subsidiary.
The Army has been using Negevs since 2020. That year, it ordered 16,479 units of the LMG through fast-track procurement (FTP) on an emergency basis. All those deliveries have since been completed.
The larger 7.62x51mm calibre delivers higher lethal firepower compared with the 5.56mm INSAS, and the shift from magazine-fed to belt ammunition allows a sustained rate of fire – eliminating the need for frequent reloads.
The Negev fires over 700 rounds per minute in the automatic mode. It is also capable of precision single-round fire, with a range exceeding 800 metres. Weighing 7.5 kg, it is one of the lightest 7.62mm LMGs in its class with a semi-automatic mode, and can be fired from a wide range of mounts, vehicles, helicopters and naval vessels.
India has also carried out successful trials of the LMG firing autonomously at high altitudes, using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The LMG is equipped with picatinny rails and tritium night sights, and is designed for low-light or night time operations. The Negev is built to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) durability standards.
IWI announced the handover and said in a statement that the delivery follows the successful completion of the technology transfer process under India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
The delivery “marks IWI’s commitment to delivering advanced systems in accordance with contractual schedules and the highest quality standards, while supporting India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem,” Shuki Schwartz, CEO of IWI and board member of PLR Systems, said
PLR Systems has also been awarded a contract to supply 170,000 IWI Close Quarter Battle carbines to India, with the first 18,000 units scheduled for delivery this year.
