During the meeting of the budget committee of the Bundestag (German parliament) on December 14, 2022, the green light has been given to conclude the contract worth EUR 25 million for the purchase of a new basic carbine for the Bundeswehr.
As you know, after some legal battles, which we mentioned in the article "Germans will still use the HK” it was model 416 that won the tender.
The German Ministry of Defense states on its website that, with the sum of €25 million paves the way for the original tender worth €209 million to be completed. However, it will allow to purchase 13,925 G95A1 and 3,104 G95KA1 carbines. At the moment, the number of 118,718 carbines in both versions is finally mentioned, of which the first units are to be delivered to soldiers in 2024.
Behind the above mentioned model there is nothing more than the previously mentioned HK 416A8 with a 16.5-inch and 14-inch barrel prepared for the requirements of the Bundeswehr. The striking differences are the telescopic stock with a height-adjustable cheek pad and the pistol grip, the angle of which is similar to that known from the HK G36.
It is also worth mentioning that the German army chose the ELCAN Specter DR 1-4X as a dedicated optical sight for the new carbines. In addition, new under barrel grenade launchers are being sought, of which 4,776 are planned to be purchased at the moment.
