New Delhi: The Adani Group Saturday delivered the first 2,000 units of Israeli Negev 7.62×51 light machine gun (LMG) to the Indian Army.
The handover is part of a contract for 41,000 weapons signed in August 2024 to replace the ageing 5.56x45mm INSAS light machine guns. Another 4,000 Negev are due to be delivered in the next batch this year under the programme, which has been executed as part of the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Though originally designed and produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), Negev is now manufactured at the Adani Group’s facility in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. The group acquired PLR Systems—IWI’s local partner for small arms manufacturing in India since 2016—turning it into a subsidiary.
This is not the Army’s first deployment of the Negev. In 2020, the forces got 16,479 units of the LMG through fast-track procurement (FTP) on an emergency basis; all those deliveries have since been completed.
The new LMG represents a significant capability upgrade over the weapon it replaces. The larger 7.62x51mm calibre delivers higher lethal firepower compared with the 5.56mm INSAS, and the shift from magazine-fed to belt ammunition allows a sustained rate of fire— eliminating the need for frequent reloads.
In automatic mode, the Negev fires over 700 rounds per minute.
The weapon is also capable of precision single-round fire, with a range exceeding 800 metres. Weighing 7.5 kg, it is one of the lightest 7.62mm LMGs in its class with a semi-automatic mode, and can be fired from a wide range of mounts, vehicles, helicopters and naval vessels.
Equipped with Picatinny rails and tritium night sights, the Negev is designed for low-light or night time operations, and built to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) durability standards.
It is additionally compatible with IWI’s ARBEL computerised weapon system, which the company says enables precise engagement of threats within short windows of opportunity, improving operator lethality and survivability under stress and fatigue.
The 7.62×51 has been extensively deployed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and offers two fire modes: semi-automatic for close-quarter battle (CQB) and fully automatic for maximum suppressive fire.
Announcing the handover, IWI said in a statement that the delivery follows the successful completion of the technology transfer process under India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Shuki Schwartz, CEO of IWI and board member of PLR Systems, said the delivery “marks IWI’s commitment to delivering advanced systems in accordance with contractual schedules and the highest quality standards, while supporting India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem”.
Separately, PLR Systems has been awarded a contract to supply 170,000 IWI Close Quarter Battle carbines to India, with the first 18,000 units scheduled for delivery this year.
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