The Indian Army has selected Meprolight’s MEPRO X6 telescopic sight as the dedicated daytime optic for its Negev light machine guns (LMG), concluding a multi‑year evaluation process aimed at boosting long‑range engagement capability across frontline units.
The selection marks a significant win for Israel‑based Meprolight, a long‑time supplier of electro‑optical systems to militaries worldwide.
Meprolight Ltd., a member of the SK Group, released the Mepro 6x day scope in 2018. The scope will be integrated into at least 10,000 Negev LMGs that will be delivered to the Indian Army in the coming year.
In March, it was announced that the first 2,000 LMGs were delivered as part of a much larger 41,000‑unit order signed in August 2024. An additional 4,000 are scheduled to be delivered later this year.
The Negev 7, a modernized variant of IWI’s combat‑proven light machine gun family, is being produced in India under the government’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Golan Kalimi, senior vice president at Meprolight, told Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post that it was the “first time that any army in the world is placing optics in submachine guns in such a big quantity as part of the weapons systems.”
The decision follows extensive user trials and environmental testing, during which the 6× fixed‑magnification sight was assessed for durability, accuracy, and ease of use under harsh operational conditions.
According to Kalimi, the accuracy was the toughest part of the testing: “Hitting a target of 800 meters is very tough. All the other tests were hard, but we were familiar with them. But hitting a weapon almost a kilometer away with a light submachine gun is very different. It's very hard.”
Meprolight is an Israeli manufacturer of electro-optical systems, thermal and night vision equipment, self-illuminated sights, as well as Laser Range Finder systems for military, law enforcement, and civil applications.
As part of the contract, the Indian Army sought an advanced optic that could extend effective engagement ranges while improving target identification. The MEPRO X6, designed for assault rifles and light machine guns, offers a wide field of view, ruggedized construction, and high‑clarity optics suited for demanding environments.
The Mepro 6x is a compact and lightweight x6 telescopic day sight with a range of up to 1000 meters. The sight has enhanced optics and operates with a single standard battery with an option for extended operation.
According to Kalimi, the IDF doesn’t have the same optics, as they don’t place magnifying sights on their LMGs. He told D&T that these sights were “custom-made for the Indian army.”
The sights will be delivered through Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), which secured the tender with a solution based on the MEPRO X6. To meet India’s localization requirements, Meprolight has signed a Transfer of Technology (ToT) agreement with RRP Defense.
Under the arrangement, RRP Defense will manufacture the sights domestically and supply them to BEL, the program’s prime contractor.
“The future of military capability will be defined not only by platforms and weapons, but by the quality of the information available to the soldier at the moment of decision,” he said.
“The selection of the MEPRO X6 by the Indian Army is a significant milestone, and through our technology transfer partnership, we are proud to contribute not only advanced capability but also to the long‑term growth of India’s defense and manufacturing ecosystem,” he added.
Local production under ‘Make in India’
The partnership aligns with India’s broader Make in India initiative, which aims to expand domestic defense manufacturing capacity and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
The partnership between India and Israel has grown steadily since the 1990s, evolving from a discreet supplier‑client relationship into a strategic collaboration spanning missiles and missile defense systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, electronic warfare, and small‑arms production.
Meprolight is part of Israel’s SK Group, a defense and industrial conglomerate that includes Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), Camero‑Tech, Israel Shipyards, and other firms specializing in precision‑engineered military systems.
The company’s products, ranging from magnified optics and red‑dot sights to thermal and night‑vision systems, are used by the IDF and security forces in more than 60 countries.