IMI Negev

[B.B]

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 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 × 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.

IMI Negev - 5.56 mm SAW

[Luno]

That’s a interesting weapon here are some more photos

[Catch22]

That’s a interesting weapon here are some more photos

Heh, note the paracord loop on soft ammo box, one of the bipod legs wrapped in foam for grip comfort and torch added for cqb. I always liked those ideas and observations you can get form Israeli field-mods.

[Howie Kaluha]

Great topic! I love the Negev

[fred_engles]

That’s a interesting weapon here are some more photos

Heh, note the paracord loop on soft ammo box, one of the bipod legs wrapped in foam for grip comfort and torch added for cqb. I always liked those ideas and observations you can get form Israeli field-mods.

That's not a torch. That's actually a reflex sight - mounted in a very odd, and probably unstable, way.

[tenda]

Great topic! I love the Negev

...yesss x 2 nice design...

[Catch22]

You're right fred, looks like that open amber dot sight popular among IDF - its Trijicon reflex, right?. On first sight I've taken it for a flashlight. Anyway strange way to mount anything - not to mention a trouble when changing barrels.

[Tikvah]

Hm... I've got a pic of one that I can post here (took it while in Israel this past February), but I don't know how. Can anyone tell me how to post pics?[/img]

[Catch22]

First host it on some free server like www.photobucket.com or www.imageshack.us then use given link on forum with [IMG] code.

[oldsoak]

An excellent weapon - yet something else we very nearly bought but didnt because of its Israeli origins. Apparently it is more offensive to some of our potential enemies be killed by an Israeli weapon than a Belgian or German one.

[jason82]

ok, i'd like to clear some things up about the negev and all of our nifty 'field mods' that we use, but I'd rather let my buddy (on the left) answer them, as he is the expert here. He is just waiting to get his registration to the site confirmed...

[RP]

The sight that is mounted above the barrel is the "Elbit Falcon reflex sight" which untill 2 years ago was the most popular (and pretty much the only one) reflex sight.

The sight is mounted on a special mount designed specially for this sight.

[Tikvah]

[pretorian669]

http://media.militaryphotos.net/phot...ISRAEL/ago.avi

[soma]

Nice.