Indian Army receives first shipment of Israeli Negev light machine guns
The 6,000 weapons were delivered as part of India's order of 16,000 Negev machine guns last year. India reportedly needs the Negev for critical operations, among others
Eyal Boguslavsky
| 15/02/2021
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
The India Today website reported in late January that the Indian Army received at the beginning of 2021 its first consignment of 6,000 Israeli Negev Light Machine Guns (LMGs) out of the 16,000 ordered last year. The rest are expected to be delivered by March, Indian Army sources added.
As reported by Israel Defense in March 2020, India signed a contract with Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) to procure 16,479 LMGs worth approximately $118 million.
According to the Indian website, the Indian Army required 40,000 LMGs in addition to assault rifles, with 7.62×51mm Indian-produced Bren light machine guns and FN MAG general purpose machine guns in service. The new LMGs will add to the Army’s firepower amid the continuing dispute with China and skirmishes with Pakistan at the Line of Control, sources have said. Sources have claimed that the weapon is required for urgent operational needs and critical operations, the website added.
The Firearm Blog website said that if IWI’s NG7 becomes the standard light machine gun of India's Army, the most obvious candidate to supply the rest of the LMGs needed by the Army is domestic small arms company PLR, which has partnered with IWI in a joint venture. However, it remains unclear whether PLR’s factory is capable of producing entire weapons yet, according to the report.
IWI confirmed that the first consignment of Negev LMGs had been delivered.
Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IMI-Negev006a.jpg
The 6,000 weapons were delivered as part of India's order of 16,000 Negev machine guns last year. India reportedly needs the Negev for critical operations, among others
Photo: IDF Spokesperson's Unit
The India Today website reported in late January that the Indian Army received at the beginning of 2021 its first consignment of 6,000 Israeli Negev Light Machine Guns (LMGs) out of the 16,000 ordered last year. The rest are expected to be delivered by March, Indian Army sources added.
As reported by Israel Defense in March 2020, India signed a contract with Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) to procure 16,479 LMGs worth approximately $118 million.
According to the Indian website, the Indian Army required 40,000 LMGs in addition to assault rifles, with 7.62×51mm Indian-produced Bren light machine guns and FN MAG general purpose machine guns in service. The new LMGs will add to the Army’s firepower amid the continuing dispute with China and skirmishes with Pakistan at the Line of Control, sources have said. Sources have claimed that the weapon is required for urgent operational needs and critical operations, the website added.
The Firearm Blog website said that if IWI’s NG7 becomes the standard light machine gun of India's Army, the most obvious candidate to supply the rest of the LMGs needed by the Army is domestic small arms company PLR, which has partnered with IWI in a joint venture. However, it remains unclear whether PLR’s factory is capable of producing entire weapons yet, according to the report.
IWI confirmed that the first consignment of Negev LMGs had been delivered.
Photo: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IMI-Negev006a.jpg
