Negev Machine Gun Special Forces Israeli Weapon Industrie

The Israeli Weapon Industries Negev 5.56 mm LMG was designed to meet the requirements of the Israel Defence Force (IDF) for a multipurpose weapon that can be fed from belts and magazines allowing it to be used within infantry sections and also mounted on vehicles and helicopters. The design was accepted by the IDF in 1997 and ‘thousands’ have since been produced for the IDF and export customers including Colombia, Costa Rica and Estonia.

Negev 5.56 mm LMG

The Negev machine gun gas regulator has three positions: the first allows a rate of fire between 850 and 1,050 rpm firing the LMG with a magazine; the second position is for belt-feed at 850-1,050 rpm under normal conditions; and, the third increases the rate of fire to 1,050 rpm for use in extreme environmental conditions. The standard Negev weighs 7.4 kg, measures 1.02 m with the buttstock extended, 780 mm with the stock folded and has a 460 mm barrel.

Negev machine gun features dual feed system, so it can alternatively use standard disintegrating belts or detachable box magazines. Belt feed unit is installed on the top of receiver, with belt feeding direction from left to right. Belt feed is operated by the side-mounted swinging lever,which is operated by cam track cut in the side of the bolt carrier(system somewhat similar to that used in post-WW2 Czechoslovak machine guns). Magazine housing is located below the receiver, with magazine being inserted vertically up. Ejection window for empty cases is at theright side of receiver, just below the empty link ejection window.

Negev Machine Gun

A shorter and lighter variant known as the Negev SF (Special Forces) is also available. Use of a 330 mm barrel reduces the weapon’s length to 890 mm with the stock extended and 680 mm with the stock folded. Empty weight is reduced to 6.95 kg. For easy handling a forward handgrip is fitted. The Negev’s iron sights are graduated from 300 to 1,000 m on the standard version while the SF version has a ‘flat top’ receiver and additional Picatinny rails on the forward handguard. The Negev can be used with NATO standard 30-round magazines, 35-round Galil magazines and 150- and 200-round ‘soft assault drums’ made of nylon fabric.