On 14 December the German government’s Budget and Defense Committees convened and the initial funds for the procurement of the German Army’s next service rifle were granted. This clears the way for the initial procurement of the HK418A8 as the G95A1.
Germany’s Search For a New Service Rifle @ TFB:
- G36 Cannot Hold Accuracy, Bundeswehr Report Confirms
- Bundeswehr Launches New Program, Rifle Tender to Replace H&K G36
- Bundeswehr Narrows Rifle Choice: Heckler & Koch vs Haenel
- Bundeswehr Rifle Trial to Replace G36 Stalls
- C.G. Haenel MK556 Wins German Army Tender To Replace G36
- Bundeswehr Withdraw Order for Haenel MK556
- C.G. Haenel Raided During Investigation into Bundeswehr Rifle Debacle
- Bundeswehr Rifle Debacle: Germany Set to Select HK416 A8?
- Is Germany’s Rifle Nightmare Finally Over?
Our German colleagues at Soldat Und Technik report that Heckler & Koch GmbH, in Obendorf, is set to receive a framework contract worth around 273.3 million euros or $291 million. The ‘System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr’ or System Assault Rifle Bundeswehr will be made up of two variants of the HK416 – the G95A1, likely to have a 16.5 inch barrel, and the G95KA1 carbine variant which will have a 14 inch barrel. As with all rifles in the HK146 family the rifles use a short-stroke gas piston system and a rotating bolt head locking mechanism.
A HK416A5 (designated the G95) – a KSK photograph
The G95 rifles will replace the Bundeswehr’s G36 rifles. The HK416A7 variant, with a 14.5 inch barrel, is already in use with Germany’s Special Forces Command – the KSK. Externally, it is believed that the G95A1 will have different furniture with a stock with an adjustable cheek rise and a pistol grip angle similar to that of the G36 in line with the requirements of the German Army’s original tender.
An initial funding request worth 25 million Euros has been green-lit by the Bundestag with a minimum order for 13,929 G95A1s and 3,104 G95KA1s. Further details on when the first guns may be delivered are not yet available. Last year it was stated that the contract for the System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr would call for delivery of 20,000 rifles per year for five years.
In June, we reported that the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court had dismissed a lawsuit brought by C.G. Haenel, the rifle contract’s former winners, which was holding up procurement of the HK416. The Bundeswehr have already selected the ELCAN Specter DR 1-4X as the optic which will be paired with the new rifles. They are currently in search of a new under barrel grenade launcher to pair with the new service rifles, with 4,776 units to be purchased initially.
TFB will continue to monitor the story and update accordingly.