Photo Above - an Israeli operator with the Negev LMG fitted with a soft 150 rounds assault drum.
The Negev LMG was developed in the early 1990's, with the IDF operational needs and specifications in mind. It was designed to replace all current LMG used in the IDF on all the relevant platforms - infantry, vehicle, airborne and maritime. Until then the LMG used by the IDF:
FN MAG 58 (M240) 7.62 mm LMG, then the IDF primary LMG
FN Minimi (M249) 5.56 mm LMG, also known by its U.S. Armed Forces designation - the Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), which was issued in small numbers to several IDF SF and infantry units.
Two Soviet made LMG - the PK and the RPD, which were exlsively by SF units.
The final production version of the Negev LMG was introduced in 1995. Several samples entered the IDF for field-testing in 1996, and in 1997 mass issue of the new firearm began.