Negev NG7 7.62mm LMG

Here we have the recently announced Negev NG7 light machine gun from Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), the privatized successor to IMI, the state owned weapons company of Uzi and Desert Eagle fame. It is a derivative of the popular and combat proven Negev 5.56mm LMG, sharing at least 80% of the same parts. The NG7 was designed with Special Operations forces in mind that need a lot of firepower in a package that is as small and light as possible. The IDF has long used the famous FN MAG machine gun (called the M240 in US service), but like many users they found that the MAG was very long and almost prohibitively heavy at around 30 pounds. The NG7 also features a semi automatic mode for the ability to fire single shots for increased accuracy. Several sources have noted that the NG7 is the only 7.62 GPMG or LMG with this capability, but the German MG 34 had this ability as well through virtue of trigger with two different "pulling surfaces". The Negev seems like it will fill its role nicely, it is exceptionally lightweight weighing in at about 17 pounds. It can be fired from a variety of mounts, including pintle mounts on helicopters, land vehicles, and naval vessels.

Negev 5.56mm LMG with the older, drum shaped ammo pouch

The Negev is just about the same as the 5.56mm Negev in terms of furniture and operation. Tritium night sight inserts are attached to the iron sights. It has an optional buttstock that is foldable and adjustable for length of pull with a cheek riser. It retains the somewhat odd Negev foregrip which is detachable and sits angled at about a 45 degrees to the axis of the bore. The NG7 has a two position gas regulator that allows the weapon to continue to work, even when it has become fouled. It is fed from a the left side with a disintegrating belt or with a box magazine fed from the top down. It is stated to fire from the open bolt position which is normal for light machine guns, but I wonder if it has a closed bolt for semi auto firing like the FN offering to the USMC Automatic Rifle competition. The NG7 has a Picatinny rails on the top cover for the attachment of optics and on the foreend for laser aiming devices.


“The new NEGEV NG7 represents the next generation of NEGEV LMGs – providing improved ergonomics as well as increased component reliability. These advances, together with its unique characteristics, make it the most effective lightweight 7.62 available for infantries. As with all other weapons built by IWI, it was developed together with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The close cooperation between IWI and the Israeli army in the development of new weapons – and the testing of these weapons on the battlefield by the IDF – is one of the most important factors contributing to the success of our weapons among armies around the world. The NG7 is already generating interest among our customers, and we have received many requests to test it. We are certain that it will become an important part of our product line.” -----Uri Amit, CEO of IWI

IWI NEGEV NG7 Weapon Specs (from Data Sheet):

Models: NEGEV NG7 LMG, NEGEV NG7 LMG SF
Caliber: 7.62x51mm
Operation: Open bolt, gas impact on piston head, rotating Bolt
Firing Modes: Safe, Semi-auto, Auto
Feeding System: Box, Assault Drum Belt Feed
Assault Drum Capacity: 100, 125 rds.
Barrel Rifling: 1:12” twist, 4 grooves
Weight (Kg): Weapon only 7.6, 7.5
Overall (OA) Length (mm)l: 1000, 912
Length with Stock folded (mm): 820, 730
Barrel Length (mm): 508, 420
Firing characteristics: Muzzle velocity (approx.) (m/sec) 860, 810
Cyclic Rate of Fire (ROF) (approx.) (rds/min): 850 – 1050 (gas reg. position 1), 950 – 1150 (gas reg. position 2)
Sight: Rear iron sight Aperture, with elevation drum for 300-1000 m (at 100-m intervals), Back up rear sight Post, built in Picatinny rail
Front Iron Sight: Post type (Adj. for windage & elevation)
Sight Line Radius: 440 mm

Ulitmax 100 Light Machine Gun

Since we looked at the final (for now) evolution of the venerable Browning 1919 this week, I thought I would also discuss one of the most interesting new (ish) developments in machine guns as well.


This is the Ultimax 100 from The Charted Industries of Singapore. It is a 5.56NATO chambered light machine gun/section support weapon depending on which nomenclature you prefer. It can be fed from a proprietary 100 round drum or 30 round box magazines (Mk 4 and Mk 5 versions accept M16-type mags). The number one difference between the Ultimax and other LMGs is weight. The Ultimax weighs in at about 10.5 pounds (unloaded) compared to the FN Minimi (M249 in US service) at about 17 pounds and the Israeli Negev LMG at 16.5 pounds.

Now there are problems associated with drum magazines. They are almost always expensive, they are bulky (even when empty), some are brittle, most rattle fairly loudly and many have reliability issues. Of course, many box magazines have reliability issues too. The ammo load for a SAW gunner can be between 600-1200 rounds. It would be very difficult to impossible to carry 12 drum mags and even if you could, you wouldn't be climbing mountains, jumping in and out of vehicles or climbing walls. At least not very quickly.


The Ultimax is also said to have a much lower felt recoil than would be expected due to the fact that it uses a constant recoil mechanism. The way that works is that the bolt carrier group travels rearward during the cycle, but never impacts the rear of the receiver. Instead of the jarring impact of metal on metal at hundreds of feet per second, the bolt group is slowly stopped by the action springs. This combined with the balance of the weapon make it very easy to shoot accurately, even at a rate of fire around 600 rounds per minute. With a raked pistol grip and forward grip, the ergonomics have been compared to the Thompson submachine gun. It is a full auto only weapon that uses a striker fired system and fires from the open bolt position to facilitate barrel cooling during auto fire. Most of the variants have a quick change barrel which is vital to any weapon designed for support fire. The cocking lever is on the left side and does not reciprocate when the weapon is fired. The Ultimax has a adjustable bipod and can be fitted with M16 style bayonets and also specialized day or night sights. The buttstock is removable, but in my opinion, the lost accuracy would not be worth the reduction of weight and length.

Here is a video of the Ultimax 100 being fired. Notice the almost complete lack of muzzle rise and the ease in which it is fired. And, I'm not trying to be mean here, but that guy isn't exactly Rambo.





While the design of the Ultimax was completed in 1977 and it has been in service since the early 1980's, it has recently been the focus of several Western Armed Forces, including the USMC. The USMC is currently running the Infantry Automatic Rifle Program for a weapon to replace some of the M249 light machine guns in their squads. The main design deficiency of the M249 in the eyes of the Corps is its weight. Also in competition against the Ultimax 100 are entries from H&K, FN and Colt Defense. (The Ultimax is pretty much not going to win though, despite its many advantages)