IMI Negev

Negev
The IMI Negev LMG
Type	Light machine gun Medium machine gun
Place of origin	Israel
Service history
In service	1997–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Al-Aqsa Intifada 2006 Lebanon War Gaza War War in Donbass
Production history
Designer	Israel Military Industries Ltd (IMI)
Designed	1985–1990
Manufacturer	Israel Military Industries Ltd (currently Israel Weapon Industries Ltd)
Produced	1995–present
Variants	Negev Commando Negev NG7
Specifications
Weight	7.40 kg (16.31 lb) (standard version) 7.00 kg (15.43 lb) (Negev Commando) 7.60 kg (16.8 lb) (NG7)
Length	1,020 mm (40 in) stock extended / 890 mm (35.0 in) stock folded (standard version) 780 mm (30.7 in) stock deployed / 680 mm (26.8 in) stock folded (Negev Commando)
Barrel length	460 mm (18.1 in) (standard version) 330 mm (13.0 in) (Negev Commando)
Cartridge	5.56×45mm NATO, 7.62×51mm NATO(NG7 variant)
Action	Gas operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	1000 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	915 m/s (3,002 ft/s) (standard version) 850 m/s (2,788.7 ft/s) (Negev Commando)
Effective firing range	300–1000 m sight adjustments (standard version) 300-800 m sight adjustments (Negev Commando)
Feed system	150-round M27 ammunition belt or 35-round box magazine
Sights	Aperture, with elevation drum and adjustable front post, folding tritium night sights, various optional optics via picatinny rail

The Negev is an Israeli 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm light machine gun, developed by Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) of Ramat HaSharon (now Israel Weapon Industries), as a replacement for the 5.56 mm Galil ARM light machine gun, whose barrel would overheat easily during sustained fire. Design work on this new indigenous firearm began in 1985, it was inspired by the Belgian FN Minimi but the design was improved to make the new weapon more reliable, especially in adverse conditions. It was officially adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in 1997. In 2012, IWI introduced the new Negev NG7, in 7.62mm calibre, to become the standard issue for the IDF.

The Negev is a gas-operated selective fire firearm that uses propellant gases from the barrel to cycle a short-stroke gas piston operating system under the barrel and a rotary bolt locking mechanism. The bolt itself features 4 radial locking lugs that engage the barrel extension and its rotation is controlled by a pin on the bolt body, which rides inside a camming guide machined into the bolt carrier. The bolt contains a spring-powered casing extractor unit, while a lever ejector is housed inside the receiver (it is rotated by the recoiling bolt carrier).

The Negev’s adjustable gas regulator has three settings: “1” is used exclusively when feeding from a magazine (the weapon’s rate of fire in this mode is 850–1,150 rounds/min), setting “2” is used in normal operating conditions when feeding from a belt (rate of fire: 850–1,150 rounds/min) and setting “3” which is used under adverse operating conditions, such as in the presence of dust, dirt or heavy fouling (cyclic rate of fire is 950-1,150 rounds/min). Early prototypes used a different 3-position gas adjustment system: setting “1”—normal operation; setting “2”—for adverse environmental conditions; and setting “3”—isolates the gas system, used to launch rifle grenades with the use of a grenade-launching blank cartridge drawn from a special 12-round magazine (from the Galil rifle).