IWI Negev
The Negev is a 5.56×45mm NATO light machine gun developed by the Israeli firearm manufacturer, Israel Weapon Industries of Ramat HaSharon.
In 2012, IWI introduced the Negev NG-7 7.62×51mm NATO general-purpose machine gun and is used by the Israel Defense Forces. The NG stands for Next Generation.
Design details
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.The design was meant to be reliable, especially in adverse conditions. In 1997, it was officially adopted by the Israeli Defense Forces.
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, 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, 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.
- setting "2" is used in normal operating conditions when feeding from a belt.
- setting "3" which is used under adverse operating conditions, such as in the presence of dust, dirt or heavy fouling.
- 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
During the weapon's initial development a barrel with a 1 in 305 mm rifling twist rate was also planned, adapted for the lightweight M193 cartridge. Additionally, a multifunction muzzle device was designed, used to launch rifle grenades.
Sights
The Negev's iron sights consist of a front post and a rear aperture sight with an elevation adjustment drum, with 300 to 1,000 m range settings in 100 m increments. The sight line radius is. For night-time operation the weapon is equipped with gaseoustritium-illuminated vials : one installed in the front sight post, and two—on a notch sight under the standard aperture sight arm. 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 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 intermediate 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. The Negev NG-7 uses the 7.62×51mm NATO full-power battle rifle 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 alternatively from a 35-round box magazine from the Galil assault rifle, or a 30-round STANAG magazine from the M16 rifle. 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
- Negev – The IWI Negev light machine gun is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. It has a barrel length of 460 mm and two operation modes; semi-automatic for accurate and fast controlled fire, and fully automatic for maximum firepower.
- Negev SF – The IWI Negev SF is a compact variant of the Negev. It uses a shorter barrel and is primarily fitted with a side grip. It has a barrel length of 330 mm.
- Negev NG-5 - A Newer Version Of The Negev 5.56, Barrel Sizes And Features Are The Same.
- Negev SF NG-5 - A Newer Version Of The Negev SF 5.56, Barrel Sizes And Features Are The Same.
- Negev NG-7 – The IWI Negev NG-7 general-purpose machine gun is chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It has a barrel length of 508 mm and two operation modes; semi-automatic for accurate and fast controlled fire, and fully automatic for maximum firepower. It is fed by a 100- or 125-round assault drum magazine containing disintegrating M13 NATO standard ammunition belts or NATO standard ammunition belts and has two gas regulator settings as the possibly for box magazine feeding was omitted. The IWI eLog weapon-embedded sensor module was added to collect and store data on the actual use of the weapons for more efficient maintenance management and servicing by armorers.
- Negev NG-7 SF – The IWI Negev NG-7 SF is a compact variant of the Negev NG-7. It uses a shorter barrel and is primarily fitted with a side grip. It has a barrel length of 420 mm.
Gallery
Users
- : Used by Argentine Federal Police and Argentine Naval Prefecture
- : Used by Military Police of São Paulo State
- : Used by Battalion d'intervention rapide
- : Used by special forces
- : Used by Presidential Guard units in 2010
- Since May 2010, standard issue light machine gun of the GAF. Heavily used by Georgian units in Afghanistan.
- : 5.56×45mm NATO variant were already in extensive use by all Special forces from earlier and also a order for 16,479 NG-7 has been placed recently to replace all the old Light Machine gun present with the Indian Army.
- : The Negev was adopted by the Israel Defense Forces in 1997 and the Negev NG-7 was adopted in 2012.
- :
- : Kenya Defense Forces
- : Mexican Federal Police
- : Police Special Forces
- : Paraguayan Army.
- : Philippine National Police Philippine Coast Guard
- : Used by special forces and commandos
- : Used by Tanzanian Special Forces.
- : Purchased 1,000 machine guns in 2007, and another 550 in 2008.
- : In service with Naval Special Forces.