From June 1 to 8, 2025, the Indian Army and Bangalore-based defense firm BSS successfully tested an AI-controlled Negev light machine gun (LMG) with a 7.62×51 mm barrel.
The experiments, which took place at high altitudes of up to 14,500 feet, revealed the system’s capacity to autonomously detect, identify, and engage targets, achieving stable target acquisition and precise engagement at ranges of up to 600 metres, with the weapon’s maximum effective range of 1,000 metres.
This AI-powered weapon system is outfitted with a powerful multi-sensor module that combines data from thermal and optical sensors, allowing it to operate successfully in low-visibility environments such as India’s hilly border areas.
The system employs powerful algorithms to recognize targets automatically, classify friends and foes, and engage in real time. It also includes ballistic correction, which accounts for environmental conditions such as wind, temperature, and range, ensuring accuracy in a variety of operational scenarios.
The system’s ability to be operated remotely via an encrypted command link is a significant advantage, as it reduces the need for direct human presence in exposed or hostile environments, lowering troop risk. The weapon can operate independently within a bunker for up to 21 days and is meant to be modular, enabling for integration with a wide range of platforms such as armored vehicles, naval boats, unmanned ground vehicles, and static installations.
The trials take place at a time when the Indian Army is increasing its light machine gun stockpile, having ordered 16,479 Negev weapons from Israel in 2020 and forecasting a demand for 40,000 units.
Recent operational experiences, such as Operation Sindoor on the Pakistan-India border, have fueled demand for such modern weapons.
This effort is part of India’s larger strategy to modernize its defense forces through indigenous innovation, which is consistent with the government’s “Make in India” and “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliance) initiatives.
The Ministry of Defence allocates ₹100 crore annually for AI research and development, with an aim of ₹1.75 lakh crore in defense output and ₹35,000 crore in exports. The AI-enabled Negev LMG is a significant step forward in India’s efforts to create autonomous systems for base defense, convoy protection, and perimeter security, particularly in high-risk or logistically demanding areas.
The successful trial of the AI-powered Negev LMG is a significant step forward in India’s defense modernization, putting the country within a narrow club of nations having operational autonomous deadly weapon systems. This technology is projected to improve operational effectiveness, limit personnel exposure to danger, and bolster India’s strategic capabilities in challenging and high-risk areas.
