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.
It 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 kg 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 x 45, either the US M855 or the European SS109. The weapon fires with a gas operated open-bolt allowing a maximum rate of 1000 rpm.
The Negev allows for a shortened barrel and box magazine to be fitted and the stock removed, producing a very compact weapon. In conjuction with this the weapon has a select fire choice and also a variable rate of fire between 700-850 or 850-1000 rpm.
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