Negev

A gas-operated light machine gun chambered in 5.56x45mm, developed to give infantry squads a lighter automatic-fire option than belt-fed medium machine guns. A larger 7.62x51mm variant, the Negev NG7, extends its effective range for designated-marksman-style suppression.

In service since 1997 · 15 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

800

m range

850

rpm

915

m/s

150

rds

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

Israeli export-licensed

Israeli MoD (DECA/SIBAT) licensing; active export programme.

Channel: Direct commercial / G2G

Fielded & proven

Widely fielded · 15 operators

In service since 1997. Status: active.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from.

Interoperability

5.56×45 NATO

Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope.: 800 m

Stronger than 84% of rifles
Rate of fire Rounds per minute (cyclic). Higher increases suppression and hit probability.: 850 rpm

Stronger than 82% of rifles
Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration.: 915 m/s

Stronger than 68% of rifles

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.: 5.56x45mm belt/magazine-fed light machine gun
Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.: 5.6 mm
Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity.: 150

Top 2% of rifles

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 1.02 m
Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.: 8 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 1
Barrel length Barrel length — longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling.: 460 mm

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 15

Stronger than 55% of rifles

Specifications compiled from public IWI and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

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