IMI Negev
The
IMI Negev is a light-weight,
5.56 mm calibre, belt-fed, bipod mounted,
Israeli
machine gun used as a
squad assault weapon (SAW). It is being promoted as the standard light machine gun for all branches of the
Israel Defence Forces (IDF).
The IMI Negev is very reliable and accurate machine gun. Its main advantages are its light weight, compactness and durability in harsh
desert conditions. Its compactness allow it to be used for charging and
special operations without losing armor penetration capability and firepower. It is currently the standard issued light/medium machine gun of the
IDF.
The design was finalised in 1995, began field testing in 1996 and was accepted by the IDF in 1997. Compared to similar weapons it is very light, just 7.5
kilograms complete (fitting a 150 round pouch magazine adds 2.1 kg) and compact, fractionally over a metre long. The ammunition is
NATO standard 5.56 × 45, either the US M855 or the European SS109. The weapon fires with a gas operated open-bolt allowing a maximum rate of 1000 round/min.
The Negev allows for a shortened
barrel and box
magazine to be fitted and the
stock removed, producing a very compact weapon. In conjunction with this the weapon has a select fire choice and also a variable
rate of fire between 700–850 or 850–1000
rounds per minute.
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Review on Negev - Defence & Civil Database
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Negev Guide at isayeret.com - The Israeli Special Forces Database
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Negev (Israeli-Weapons)
