The Indian Army has officially selected Israeli defence firm Meprolight's MEPRO X6 telescopic sight as the dedicated daytime optics solution for its in-service NEGEV 7.62×51mm light machine guns (LMGs), the firm announced on Monday.

Deliveries of the new Indian-made sights are expected to begin by the end of this fiscal year, marking a significant upgrade in the Army’s long-range targeting capabilities.

Customised day-optic for extended range ops

The MEPRO X6 is a fixed 6x magnification telescopic sight specifically engineered for assault rifles, light machine guns and other weapon systems that demand a balance of precision, ruggedness and high optical performance.

According to Meprolight, the sight provides enhanced target identification and acquisition, a wide field of view and dependable performance under demanding environmental and operational conditions.

The Indian Army had sought an advanced daytime optic capable of enhancing operational effectiveness at the NEGEV’s extended range, with specifications calling for an effective range of 800 metres.

The selection process included extensive user assessments and rigorous environmental testing focused on reliability, durability, accuracy and ease of operation under challenging field conditions.

‘Make in India’ in Action

In a move aligned with the government’s Make in India initiative in defence, Meprolight has signed a comprehensive Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with Indian private company RRP Defence. Under this pact, Meprolight will transfer the knowledge, processes and manufacturing capabilities required for full production of the MEPRO X6 in India.

"RRP Defence will manufacture the sights locally and supply them to Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which will serve as the prime contractor to the Indian Army under the program," the company statement said.

BEL secured the Army tender with a solution based on the MEPRO X6 and will serve as the prime supplier to the Indian Army. The daytime optics will be manufactured indigenously by RRP Defence under the ToT partnership, reinforcing India’s push for indigenous defence production through technology transfers with foreign partners.

NEGEV: India’s new light machine gun

The NEGEV 7.62×51mm light machine gun, designed by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), was selected by the Indian Army to replace the older 5.56×45mm INSAS light machine gun.

The first batch of 2,000 India-made NEGEV LMGs was delivered to the Army in March 2026, manufactured in Madhya Pradesh under an Indo-Israeli joint venture.

The contract signed in August 2024 covers additional deliveries of 4,000 more NEGEV LMGs within this year, as part of a larger 41,000-weapon deal.

Equipped with Picatinny rails and tritium night sights, the NEGEV platform allows for superior targeting in low-light or nighttime conditions, while compliance with NATO durability standards guarantees reliable performance in harsh environments.

The new MEPRO X6 daylight optic complements the NEGEV’s existing night-sighting capability, giving the Army a complete all-weather, all-day targeting solution.

Rigorous user assessments across extreme conditions

Meprolight said the Indian Army’s evaluation process for the telescopic sight included extensive user assessments and rigorous environmental testing focused on reliability, durability, accuracy and ease of operation under demanding conditions.

The Army’s requirement was for a ruggedised telescopic sight with an effective range of 800 metres and a maximum magnification capacity of 5X (though the selected MEPRO X6 offers 6x magnification), with a weight not exceeding 650 grams including the mounting bracket and battery.

The MEPRO X6, with its 6x fixed magnification, meets and exceeds these specifications while offering enhanced optical performance and target identification at extended ranges.

The deal further strengthens the long-standing defence partnership between India and Israel, which has see India procure a range of Israeli defence technologies including the NEGEV machine gun itself, missile systems, drones and advanced optics.

Deliveries of the MEPRO X6 telescopic sights are expected to begin by the end of this fiscal year (March 2027), with RRP Defence manufacturing the sights locally and supplying them to BEL.

With this upgrade, every NEGEV LMG deployed across Indian Army infantry units will now be equipped with a dedicated daytime optic capable of accurate target engagement up to 800 metres, enhancing the Army’s long-range firepower and operational effectiveness in diverse combat scenarios.