The Indian Army and Bangalore-based defence tech firm BSS have conducted the country鈥檚 first successful field trial of a fully autonomous AI-enabled Negev light machine gun (LMG). Conducted between June 1 and June 8, 2025, the trials took place at altitudes exceeding 14,500 feet in the eastern Himalayas. The standout feature: this weapon system can operate inside fortified bunkers without human presence for 21 straight days. At the core of the breakthrough is an encrypted remote-control system married with AI target detection and friend-foe identification. Fitted to an Israeli Negev LMG with a 7.62脳51 mm barrel, the AI system uses multi-spectral sensor fusion鈥攖hermal and optical鈥攖o operate in fog, snow, low light, or zero visibility. Its detection range peaks at 600 metres, while the Negev鈥檚 effective kill range extends to 1,000 metres. Designed for base defence, perimeter watch, and convoy security, the AI system enables a completely unmanned firing post in high-threat terrain. BSS engineers claim the system鈥檚 power-efficient setup, motion detection, and automated engagement protocols allow it to sustain standalone operation inside static bunkers for up to three weeks. In trial footage reviewed by Army HQ, the weapon auto-tracked moving silhouettes, issued a threat classification, and executed dry-run firing protocols鈥攁ll without operator input. Capable Of Target Engagement with Minimal Latency, Thanks To Ballistic AI Compensation The trials, which included test cycles in sub-zero temperatures and high winds, confirmed the system鈥檚 stability, precision, and real-time responsiveness. Its internal software uses ballistic compensation, adjusting for temperature, wind, altitude, and projectile drop鈥攃alculating variables a human operator might miss under stress. The result: stable fire control and rapid retargeting across multiple zones within the system鈥檚 visual cone. According to defence sources, the weapon was mounted within a hardened static emplacement simulating a Himalayan forward post, monitored via secure fibre-optic and satellite uplinks. For 21 days, it cycled between live tracking, predictive scanning, and energy-saving standby modes, without requiring technician intervention. Defence planners see this as the future of 鈥減ersistent surveillance and autonomous deterrence鈥 along vulnerable mountain passes and infiltration-prone sectors. The weapon is modular, allowing integration with unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), naval decks, or vehicle-mounted systems. The remote interface allows troops to manually override, but the autonomous mode is built for scenarios where reaction time must be under two seconds. Most critically, it reduces exposure for troops stationed in exposed frontline outposts where line-of-sight patrols have led to ambushes. Indian Army Eyes Battalion-level Rollout By 2027 In Select High-risk Forward Sectors Indian Army officials said the development came after observing Israel鈥檚 use of automated turrets along the Gaza fence and South Korea鈥檚 similar systems along the DMZ. BSS has taken that template further with real-time friend-foe logic, fusion targeting, and an offline mission endurance cycle powered by AI micro-controllers. Defence analysts note this marks the first credible use of an Indian-developed autonomous weapon system in trial conditions. The AI-driven gun is not a mere concept鈥攊ts logic board hosts machine-learning models that refine targeting after each cycle, improving performance the longer it鈥檚 deployed. BSS claims the system can distinguish between animals, humans, and even gear load-outs鈥攔educing false positives. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just lethal automation,鈥 one BSS engineer told us, 鈥渋t鈥檚 battlefield intelligence baked into a barrel.鈥 The Indian Army currently operates over 16,000 Israeli Negev LMGs and is projected to induct another 25,000 under revised infantry modernization goals. Retrofitting even a fraction with autonomous fire-control units could revolutionize how India holds line defences along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Line of Control (LoC). The bunker-cycle capability means fewer soldiers on perimeter detail鈥攁nd fewer casualties during enemy fire or harsh climate exposure. Negev-AI Seen as s a Cornerstone of Autonomous Sentry Deployments Across Mountain Theatre The Ministry of Defence is actively investing 鈧100 crore annually in AI-backed combat systems, with this Negev platform seen as one of the first real test cases for autonomous deployment in theatre. Officials confirmed that an Army Design Bureau (ADB) review is complete, and procurement discussions are underway for a pilot rollout by 2026. If cleared, this will become India鈥檚 first lethal autonomous weapon on operational duty. Beyond combat, the system is also being considered for perimeter security at ammunition depots, airbases, and strategic installations. It complements India’s wider drive toward indigenisation in defence technology under the 鈥淎atmanirbhar Bharat鈥 campaign, with over 鈧1.75 lakh crore in production targets and 鈧35,000 crore in export ambitions. BSS, for its part, has already begun work on a similar turret system using the INSAS Mk1C for lower-tier installations. India鈥檚 AI-equipped Negev LMG isn鈥檛 just a gun鈥攊t鈥檚 a 21-day autonomous warrior, capable of defending a post when no human can. Whether integrated into bunkers or rolled out with mobile platforms, this breakthrough underscores a shift from manpower-heavy static defence to intelligent, low-footprint deterrence.