SOURCE: AFI
In a significant leap toward modernizing its military capabilities, India successfully tested an artificial intelligence-enabled light machine gun (LMG) system on June 9, 2025, in high-altitude terrain. The trials, conducted at an elevation of 14,000 feet, showcased the advanced autonomous features of the Negev LMG, developed by Dehradun-based defense firm BSS Material Ltd. in collaboration with the Indian Army. This cutting-edge weapon system demonstrated its ability to autonomously identify and engage targets in the challenging mountainous environments along India’s rugged borders, marking a pivotal step in enhancing the nation’s defense readiness under the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
The AI-powered Negev LMG, based on the combat-proven 7.62x51mm NG-7 variant originally developed by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), integrates a sophisticated multi-sensor AI module designed by BSS Material Ltd. This module enables automatic target detection, friend-foe classification, and real-time engagement, making the system a next-generation battlefield asset. During the high-altitude trials, the weapon maintained stable target acquisition, adaptive fire control, and semi-autonomous surveillance, even in the harsh conditions typical of India’s border regions with China and Pakistan.
Engineers from BSS Material highlighted the system’s advanced features, including thermal and optical sensor fusion for precision targeting, ballistic compensation for environmental variables like wind, range, and temperature, and encrypted remote command compatibility. These capabilities allow the Negev LMG to operate effectively in low-visibility conditions, a critical advantage in high-altitude warfare. The system’s modular, platform-agnostic design further enhances its versatility, enabling integration with various platforms, including tripods, remote weapon stations (RWS), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and static installations.
The AI-enabled Negev LMG is tailored for deployment in high-risk or logistically challenging environments, where rapid response is essential but troop deployment is constrained. Indian Army officials noted that the system is ideal for base defense, convoy protection, and perimeter security, particularly in areas with persistent high threat levels. Its ability to autonomously detect and engage targets reduces the need for constant human intervention, enhancing operational efficiency and soldier safety in remote or contested regions.
The trials, conducted in the presence of senior Indian Army officers, focused on evaluating the system’s functionality and accuracy under extreme environmental conditions. Posts on X celebrated the achievement, with users praising the system’s smart optics, adaptive targeting, and data fusion as a glimpse into the future of infantry weapons as intelligent systems. One user described the test as “merging battlefield autonomy with altitude warfare,” underscoring its strategic significance for India’s defense posture.
The Negev LMG itself has been a key component of the Indian Army’s modernization efforts. In 2020, India signed a $118 million contract with IWI to procure 16,479 Negev NG-7 LMGs under the Fast Track Procedure, with deliveries completed by February 2021. These 7.62x51mm guns, known for their reliability and lethality, replaced the less effective INSAS LMGs and have been deployed along India’s volatile borders with China and Pakistan. The addition of an indigenous AI module enhances the Negev’s capabilities, positioning India at the forefront of autonomous combat technology.
The timing of the trials is noteworthy, following India’s Operation Sindoor in May 2025, where Indian weapons systems outperformed their Pakistani counterparts in field conditions. The AI-enabled Negev LMG’s successful test further bolsters India’s military edge, particularly in high-altitude regions like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, where tensions with China persist, and along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. The system’s ability to operate autonomously in such terrains addresses critical operational challenges, including limited troop mobility and extreme weather conditions.
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