Negev NG-5

Description

The Negev NG-5 is the standard issue light machine gun (LMG) of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF).

Produced by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), the NG-5 is of a similar design to that of the FN Minimi or H&K MG4. In terms of being a lightweight belt or box fed infantry support weapon, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO calibre, with interchangeable barrels to enable sustained/suppressive fire.

Like most belt fed LMG’s, the NG-5 operates from an open bolt, with trigger operation allowing the working parts to strip (from the belt) and fire the cartridge during their forward travel, under the influence of compressed return/recoil spring.

The NG-5 proved so successful with the IDF, that in 2012 a 7.62×51mm NATO calibre (NG-7) version was introduced as their standard general-purpose machine gun (GPMG), to eventually phase out the FN MAG with ground troops (although it is still used in many other roles).