IWI Negev

The NEGEV is a 5.56×45mm NATO light machine gun developed by an Israeli firearm manufacturer, Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) of Ramat HaSharon (now known as 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. The design was later improved to make it more reliable, especially in adverse conditions.^[2] In 1997, it was officially adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

IWI introduced the NEGEV NG-7 7.62×51mm NATO light machine gun to become the new standard issue machine gun for the Israeli Defense Forces in 2012.

Design details

A IDF NEGEV fed from an ammo box in a shooting range.

The IWI NEGEV is a gas-operated selective fire light machine gun 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).

Striker firing mechanism

The NEGEV is striker-fired, where the bolt carrier assembly acts as the striker, and fires from an open bolt position. A lever-type fire control selector switch is provided (“A”— for fully automatic fire and “R”— for semi-automatic fire), installed on the left side of the pistol grip, which doubles as a manual safety against accidental firing. The safe “S” position disables the sear mechanism (which makes it impossible to cock the bolt carrier), by lifting the lever responsible for holding the bolt carrier in the forward position and disconnects the trigger mechanism from the sear. The weapon can be secured safe regardless of the position of the bolt carrier group. The cocking handle is equipped with a ratcheting mechanism that immobilizes the partially cocked bolt carrier.

Gas regulator

The NEGEV's adjustable gas regulator has three settings:

• setting “1” is used exclusively when feeding from a magazine (rate of fire in this mode is around 850–1,050 rounds per minute).
• setting “2” is used in normal operating conditions when feeding from a belt (rate of fire in this mode is also around 850–1,050 rounds per minute).
• setting “3” which is used under adverse operating conditions, such as in the presence of dust, dirt or heavy fouling (rate of fire in this mode is around 950–1,150 rounds per minute).

Early prototypes used a different 3-position gas adjustment system:

• setting “1”—for normal operations.
• setting “2”—for adverse environmental conditions.
• setting “3”—isolates the gas system, and is 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.

Barrel

The NEGEV has a quick-change chrome-lined barrel that is manufactured using a cold hammer forging process. The barrel is fitted with a slotted flash suppressor and a fixed carry handle, which is used to transport the weapon and change-out an overheated barrel. The barrel can be changed only after lifting open the feed tray cover.

During the weapon’s initial development a barrel with a 1 in 305 mm (1:12 in) rifling twist rate was also planned, adapted for the lightweight M193 cartridge. Additionally, a multifunction muzzle device was designed, used to launch rifle grenades.

Sight

The NEGEV’s iron sights (closed-type) consist of a front post (adjustable for both windage and elevation) and a rear aperture sight with an elevation adjustment drum, with 300 to 1,000 m range settings. For night-time operation the weapon is equipped with gaseous
tritium-illuminated vials (supplied by Betalight): one installed in the front sight post, and two—on a notch sight under the standard aperture sight arm (before use, the rear sight leaf is pivoted forward to expose the night notch sight). A rail is integrated into the receiver top cover that allows optical day and night-time sights to be mounted to the weapon. The barrel can also be optionally fitted with mounting hardware that would allow the NEGEV to mount a laser pointer or reflex sight.

The machine gun has a metal side-folding (right side) stock and a removable bipod, installed to the forward end of the handguard and folded under the handguard when stowed. The receiver also has slots and hooks used to secure the weapon to vehicle mounting hardware.

Cartridges

The NEGEV uses the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and is optimized for the SS109 bullet. Field maintenance involves stripping the weapon down to six main groups: the barrel, stock, bolt carrier, bolt, bipod and return mechanism. All parts, including the quick-change barrels, are fully interchangeable. While the NEGEV NG-7 uses the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.

Ammunition feeding

The NEGEV feeds from an M27 disintegrating, open-link ammunition belt, carried in a 150-round fabric container that clips into the magazine well or alternately from a 35-round box magazine from the Galil assault rifle or a 30-round STANAG magazine from the M16 rifle (with the use of an adapter). 200-round ammunition belt containers are also available. Belted ammunition is introduced into the feed tray port from the left side, while the magazine is inserted vertically into the magazine well at the base of the receiver. The feed system uses a pawl feeding mechanism, driven by the recoiling bolt carrier, but the belt is moved only during the rearward movement of the bolt carrier. The non-reciprocating charging handle is located on the right side of the weapon.

Variants

A left-side view of the IWI NEGEV NG-7.

• NEGEV – The IWI NEGEV light machine gun is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. It has a barrel length of 460 mm (18.11 inch) and two operation modes; semi-automatic for accurate and fast controlled fire, and fully automatic for maximum firepower.^[3]
• NEGEV SF – The IWI NEGEV SF light machine gun is a compact variant of the NEGEV. It uses a shorter barrel and is primarily fitted with a side grip (NEGEV Assault Grip).^[4] It has a barrel length of 330 mm (12.99 inch).^[5][3]
• NEGEV NG-7 – The IWI NEGEV NG-7 light machine gun is chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It has a barrel length of 508 mm (20 inch) and two operation modes; semi-automatic for accurate and fast controlled fire, and fully automatic for maximum firepower.^[3]
• NEGEV NG-7 SF – The IWI NEGEV NG-7 light machine gun is a compact variant of the NEGEV NG-7. It uses a shorter barrel and is primarily fitted with a side grip (NEGEV Assault Grip).^[4] It has a barrel length of 420 mm (16.5 inch).^[3]

Gallery

• 
  An FN MAG (on the left) compared to an IWI NEGEV (on the right).
• 
  A NEGEV (on the left) compared to an M4A1 (on the right).
• 
  IDF infantry soldier with a NEGEV during Operation Defensive Shield, 2002.
• 
  IDF infantry soldier fires a NEGEV light machinegun during training.
• 
  IDF instructor with a NEGEV.

Users

•  Azerbaijan^[6]
•  Colombia^[1]
•  Costa Rica^[1]
•  Equatorial Guinea^[7]
•  Estonia^[1][8]
•  Georgia^[9] Since May 2010, standard issue light machine gun of the GAF.
•  India^[1]
•  Israel: The NEGEV was adopted by the Israel Defense Forces in 1997^[1][10] and the NEGEV NG-7 was adopted in 2012.^[11]
•  Mexico: Mexican Federal Police^[12]
•  Republic of Macedonia: Police Special Forces
•  Paraguay: Paraguayan Army.^[13]
•  Tanzania: Used by Tanzanian Special Forces in The Democratic Republic of the Congo.^[14]
•  Thailand: Purchased 1,000 machine guns in 2007, and another 550 in 2008.^[15]
•  Vietnam: In service with Naval Special Forces.^[16]
•  Ukraine (known as Fort-401)

See also

• FN Minimi
• HK MG4
• Daewoo Precision Industries K3

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMI Negev.

• The NEGEV LMGs in the IWI official website:

– NEGEV SF

– NEGEV NG-7

– NEGEV NG-7 SF

• Israel Weapon Industries – Homepage (Main Website)
• Israel Weapon Industries – NEGEV (Main Website)
• Israel Weapon Industries – (Main NEGEV LMG Brochure)