Delivery of the first batch of 40,000 Negev LMGs to the army early next year, CEO of the Israeli company

Schwartz said any future introduction of the system would be handled through co-production in both Israel and India, with PLR Systems leading local production efforts | Photo credit: iStockphoto

The delivery of the combat weapon originally manufactured by IWI follows the completion of all mandatory trials and government approvals for a contract approved in August 2023 by the Defense Acquisition Council, chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

PLR Systems, a joint venture between Israel Weapon Industries and Adani Defense & Aerospace, will execute the contract while the LMGs are co-produced at the Adani plant in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.

“We have completed all tests, trials and government checks and have now received the production license. The first batch will be delivered early this year,” IWI CEO Shuki Schwartz said during an interaction at the Jerusalem factory. The LMG order is expected to be fulfilled over a five-year period, although Schwartz noted that deliveries could be accelerated if necessary.

In addition to the LMG order, Bharat Forge and PLR Systems jointly won a landmark contract worth ₹2,770 crore in September for the supply of 4.25 lakh Close Quarters Battle (CQB) carbines, which is part of the Indian Army’s ongoing modernization efforts.

Bharat Forge emerged as the primary bidder while OUR Systems was the runner-up in this tender. “We plan to deliver 40 percent of the contract. We are in the pre-signing phase and expect it to be completed late this year or early next year,” Schwartz said.

Under the scheme, 60 percent of the CQB carbines will be manufactured by Bharat Forge, while the remaining 40 percent will be supplied by PLR Systems.

The carbines, which are expected to be deployed in the army from September 2026, will significantly increase the army’s short-range combat capabilities.

local efforts

IWI is also in preliminary discussions with Indian agencies to introduce its Arbel technology – a unique automated weapons system that uses advanced algorithms to help soldiers achieve precise targeting on moving targets such as drones and in case of burst fire. It is also designed to significantly improve a soldier’s reaction speed during combat.

When the shooter pulls the trigger, Arbel ensures that the shot is released at the most precise moment – within milliseconds – allowing high-precision fire to be delivered even under stress or movement, one company’s weapons expert said as he gave a firing demonstration.

Schwartz said any future introduction of the system would be handled through co-production in both Israel and India, with PLR Systems leading local production efforts.

However, the two partners will have to reach an agreement between themselves before they can throw the Arbel-authorized weapon on the Indian armed forces.

Through its Indian partner Adani, the company simultaneously works with multiple agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs to supply a range of small arms including pistols, rifles and machine guns. These battles, Schwartz said, involve smaller but frequent orders amounting to “tens of thousands of weapons per year.”

He added that the heightened security environment has increased demand for faster deliveries, even as long-term contracts continue.

Schwartz reaffirmed IWI’s commitment to the ‘Make in India’ initiative, noting that the company was one of the first foreign partners to invest in local light weapons manufacturing through OUR Systems. He also emphasized that recent export restrictions by some European countries underscore the need for Israel to strengthen its own supply chain – an area in which IWI has invested heavily to maintain uninterrupted support to defense customers around the world.

The writer was in Israel at the invitation of the Israeli government for a select group of Indian defense journalists

Published on December 6, 2025