It is strange enough in our age of computer and information technologies that some types of weapons that have existed for many years, it seems, still have not solved all their technical problems. It is quite understandable that the problems of assault rifles have not yet been resolved. Some of them, created in the 90s, received a lot of criticism, which led to their premature replacement. The first was the licensed Spanish automatic rifle CETME, which was replaced by the German G36, which is currently being replaced by a new model
The French army began to receive new assault rifles, which will replace the FAMAS bullpup rifle, which has been in service since the late 70s. The replacement was the HK416F rifle, created by the German company Heckler & Koch (the numbers mean compatibility with NATO standards with magazines from M4 and M16, the letter F means France). A total of 117,000 rifles will be purchased, and deliveries will run from 2017 to 2028. Initially, the contract provided for the supply of 102,000 rifles, an increase of 15,000 pieces due to the needs of reserve units. About 93,000 rifles are intended for the army, almost 10,000 for the ground units of the fleet and the air force. The contract also includes 10,767 HK269F 40x46 mm grenade launchers, accessories, ammunition, spare parts and technical support for 15 years.
The army will receive 5,300 rifles in 2017, then from 2018 to 2023 it will receive 10,000 rifles a year, and in the last five years of the contract, supplies will be halved. The share of the army will allow to arm the entire personnel of the combat units of the ground forces, which is 77,000 military, as well as those who are not included in these units, plus the personnel of reserve units. The first two army units received the HK416F in June this year: the 1st Sniper Regiment received a batch of 150 rifles and the 13th Foreign Legion Semi-Brigade a batch of 250 pieces. Regarding new elements: compared to the previous FAMAS rifle, the new model has a magazine for 30 rounds versus 25; The HK416F rifle also has a mirror-symmetrical design, that is, it is easily adaptable to both right-handed and left-handed people, which cannot be said about the "clarion" (fr. horn, unofficial name FAMAS), which was produced in two different versions; buttstock adapts to the size of the soldier. Four Picatinny rails are mounted on the receiver plate, which allows the installation of additional systems, for example, a 40-mm HK269F underbarrel grenade launcher also of a double-sided design, a grip with a bipod, optical sights, etc.
The HK416F rifle will be produced in two versions: 38505 pieces for infantry units are purchased in the standard version of the HK416F-S with a barrel length of 14.5 inches, and the remaining 54,575 pieces, designated HK416F-C (Court - shortened), will be equipped with an 11-inch barrel. Currently, most of the infantry units are armed with a FAMAS FELIN rifle, adapted to the combat equipment of the FELIN French army. In order to preserve the capabilities of the FELIN complex, these units will keep their old assault rifles in service for some time, since the army plans to release kits for adapting the new rifle to the next stage of the FELIN program around 2020. The French army in 2020-2021 plans to modernize a total of 14,915 HK416F-S rifles, work will be carried out at the unit level. At the time specified by the command, the troops will receive the new FELIN 2.0 combat equipment, which is a further development of the current system, in which special emphasis is placed on mobility and modularity, as well as weight reduction.
The Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle is nevertheless considered a successful platform to this day. The last known contract was with Lithuania for an improved version of this rifle under the designation G36 KA4M1. Improvements are mainly related to ergonomics: new stock, barrel pad and rifle scope guides. Lithuania also purchased a new NK269 grenade launcher of "double-sided" design. The Lithuanian army has already received a number of G36 rifles; a 2016 contract worth 12.5 million euros provides for the delivery in 2017 of an undisclosed number of rifles and grenade launchers.
Germany has finally decided to replace this G36 assault rifle, which entered service in the mid-90s. In April 2017, the German Defense Procurement Authority opened the System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr competition. Applications should have been submitted by the end of May, but no official information has been received from applicants. The projected number of rifles should be about 120,000; the choice will be made next year, while production is due to start in mid-2019 and run until early 2026, with a contract value estimated at € 245 million. Little is known about the requirements for the new rifle: weight without a magazine is 3.6 kg, two barrels of different lengths, the two-sidedness of the rifle, a barrel resource of at least 15,000 shots, a receiver resource is twice as high as average. Oddly enough, the requirements do not say anything about the caliber, which allows applicants to offer weapons of both NATO standards, 5, 56x45 and 7, 62x51, although the former is most likely preferable.
Among the applicants, we will no doubt find three national solutions offered by Heckler & Koch, Rheinmetall and Haenel. It remains to be seen how many foreign applicants such as FN and SIG Sauer can try their luck in this competition, given the irresistible desire of the German parliament to keep money in their country.
In February 2017, Heckler & Koch presented its new modular assault rifle NK433, which combines some of the best practices and the best characteristics of the G36 and NK416 rifles, but at the same time its cost is lower than the cost of the NK416. It belongs to a gas-operated weapon with a gas piston with a short stroke, made separately from the bolt carrier, and locking the bolt with an optimized shape for 7 lugs. The barrels are modular, quick-detachable and made in six configurations in lengths of 11, 12, 5, 14, 5. 16, 5, 18, 9 and 20-inches; chrome-plated inside the barrels are made by cold forging. Self-lubricating sliding bolt parts minimized maintenance of the weapon. At the request of the Bundeswehr, the NK433 rifle has a three-position translator of fire modes: "on safety", "single" and "automatic"; the rate of fire is 700 rounds per minute. The adjustable gas outlet allows the installation of a muffler. The standard magazine corresponds to NATO STANAG 4179, however, using a special kit, the NK433 rifle can be equipped with a G36 magazine. The lower part of the receiver can be replaced with a G36 or AR-15 receiver, which allows the user not to change their habits acquired with the previous weapon, thereby reducing the amount of combat training. The rifle has a right-folding buttstock with a length-adjustable shoulder rest and a height-adjustable cheek. Shooting can be carried out with the stock folded; Replaceable grip covers allow it to be adapted to the size of the shooter's hand. The receiver is made of aluminum, equipped with a NAR (NATO Accessory Rail) STANAG 4694 standard, the receiver has a Picatinny / NAR rail at 6 o'clock. At the 3 and 9 o'clock positions we find Nkeu adapters. H&K offers a shot counter that can be downloaded from a short distance using RFID technology. In addition to the version of caliber 5, 56 mm, the new rifle from H&K is also available in the.300 AAC Blackout (7.62x35) cartridge, the version chambered for 7.62x39 mm was designated NK123, while the 7.62x51 mm version was designated NK231.
Rheinmetall and Steyr Mannlicher have teamed up to take part in the competition to replace the German G36 rifle and offer it the RS556 model (Rheinmetall - Steyr 5.56), which is a further development of the STM-556 carbine. presented by an Austrian arms company in 2012. The lower receiver is the same as that of the AR15 rifle, however, modified for left-handers. The rifle is equipped with a more reliable and significantly less sensitive to contamination system with a short stroke of the gas piston. The piston acts on the rod, which moves the bolt carrier back, and is locked by the rotary bolt. Parts of the bolt carrier are made of steel, while the upper and lower receivers are made of aluminum. Five barrels of different lengths are available for the rifle, no tools are required to replace them. These solutions are inherited from the Steyr AUG model. The rifle has a four-position gas regulator, which can operate in normal mode, in difficult operating conditions, in firing mode with a silencer and with a completely closed gas outlet. The telescopic polymer stock has 7 length adjustment positions. In addition to the 5, 56 mm caliber, there are also models chambered for.300 AAC Blackout and 7.62x39 mm.
The third German applicant, Haenel (although owned by the Emirati company Tawazun), offered another AR15-based rifle in a competition to replace the G36. The principle of operation of the Haenel Mk 556 model automation is based on the removal of powder gases from the barrel. The stock also resembles the M4 stock, with five barrels of different lengths offered. A three-position fuse-translator of firing modes allows you to fire single shots and continuous bursts. Depending on the customer's choice, two position options are offered for it: fuse-single-automatic, respectively, at 0 ° -60 ° -120 ° or at 0 ° -90 ° -180 °. The trigger pull is 3.2 kg, all controls and adjustments are suitable for both hands. The barrel pad is equipped with four NAR rails, and folding mechanical sights are also installed.
While everything is more or less clear with the three German applicants, little is known about possible foreign applicants. In principle, all major small arms manufacturers are capable of presenting interesting solutions. Another unclear point concerns the possible common system of France and Germany, proposed by France at the end of 2015, when the NK433 rifle had not yet "been released".
Another competition, albeit of a significantly smaller scale, was announced in Germany in January 2017. This time, a new rifle became necessary for the special operations forces. The Office of Defense Procurement has identified the need for 1705 rifles, to which five still need to be added for evaluation tests and another 40 for acceptance tests, that is, the winner will have to supply a total of 1,750 rifles. As for the requirements for the rifle, some of them are known: a rifle chambered for 5.56x45 mm with a short gas piston stroke, a barrel life of at least 10,000 rounds, a receiver three times longer. The rifle must adapt to right-handers and singers and be equipped with STANAG 4694 guides on the receiver and receiver so that additional devices can be installed, for example, a laser module, a flashlight and other devices. The weapon must be compatible with a silencer and must have a length of less than 900 mm without a silencer, the maximum weight without a magazine and optics must not exceed 3.8 kg.
Rheinmetall will undoubtedly offer its RS556 model for this competition, however, Heckler & Koch should offer their NK416A5 or NK416A5 models, while Haenel's participation is still in question. As with the aforementioned competition, little is known about foreign applicants who might have entered the German competition. German special operations squadrons (KSK) began receiving the new Haenel RS-9.338 LM sniper rifle in 2016, designated G-29 in the Bundeswehr. The length of the weapon is 1275 mm, the barrel length is 690 mm, with the stock folded, the total length is reduced to 1020 mm. The KSK special forces chose the Steiner Military 5-25x56-ZF sight, to which, in case of firing at close range, the Aimpoint Micro 1-2 collimator sight is attached. In June 2017, spetsnaz began to receive a B&T Monoblock silencer specially designed for the.338 LM caliber. It adds another 222mm to the rifle's length and another 652 grams to its weight, which is 7.54kg without accessories.
Another country that recently opted for the.338 LM caliber for its snipers was Latvia, which purchased an unnamed number of Accuracy International AHMS rifles at the end of 2016. This is a big breakthrough in terms of accuracy and range, as Lithuanian snipers were previously armed with 7.62x51 mm semi-automatic rifles.
Remaining in the sniper world, some of the younger members have embraced historic brands. For example, the Austrian Ritter & Stark with its modular rifle SX-1 Modular Tactical Rifle, available chambered for 7.62x51 300 Winchester Magnum and.338 Lapua Magnum, and the Italian Victrix, whose portfolio includes four bolt action rifles, Pugio chambered for 7.62x51, Gladius chambered for 7.62x51,.260 Remington and 6.5 Creed, Scorpio chambered for.338 LM and.300 Win, and Tormentum chambered for.375 and.408 Cheytac, were recently acquired by Beretta. Staying true to Beretta, Poland recently bought 150 Sako M10 modular rifles chambered for.338 LM.
In terms of assault rifles, Beretta supplies its ARX-200 combat rifles to the Italian army. These 7.62x51mm rifles will allow the Italian combat units to increase their combat capabilities over the previous Beretta ARX-160 5.56mm rifles. Beretta should soon begin development of a semi-automatic version of the ARX-200, which will become a pure marksman rifle in the company's portfolio (the lowest in accuracy in the classification accepted by the US Army).
Many armies are adopting new rifles. At the end of last year, the Czech army received the first batch of CZ Bren 2 assault rifles. 2600 were ordered, 1900 with a barrel length of 356 mm and 700 rifles in a shortened configuration with a barrel length of 280 mm. Also at the end of 2016, the Dutch Marine Special Forces received their SIG MCX short-barreled carbines, becoming the first among the special forces to switch to the.300 Blackout caliber; new carbines will replace submachine guns in close combat. Among the ammunition included in the contract, you can find not only standard cartridges and cartridges with subsonic bullets, but also lead-free thin-walled bullets that allow you to avoid ricochet when working in confined spaces. In early January 2017, the Turkish army received the first batch of 500 MRT-76 7.62x51 mm assault rifles from MKEK; in accordance with the contract, 35,000 rifles will be manufactured by two companies, MKEK will produce 20,000 pieces, and KaleKalip will produce 15,000 pieces respectively. At IDEF 2017, MKEK presented its new assault rifle chambered for 5.56x45 mm MRT-55 (Milli Piyade Tiifegi - the national infantry rifle), which comes in two versions, a standard one with a 368 mm barrel and a shortened one (MRT-55K). The new rifle features a short stroke gas release system similar to that of the AR-15; it was designed to meet the needs of the Turkish special forces; at the end of 2016, 20,000 rifles were ordered. In addition, a variant of the MRT-76 rifle with a table length of 508 mm was presented, which received the designation KNT-76 (Keskin Nisanci Tiifegi - sniper rifle); a variant of the KAAN-717 carbine with a 305 mm barrel was also shown. As for Russia, it is very active in the small arms market. For example, Venezuela is building a plant in Maracay for the production of Russian AK-103 and AK-104 assault rifles, as well as 7.62x39 mm cartridges, which is due to open in 2019.
India has always been and remains one of the main potential customers for small arms. Its small arms market is estimated at several billion dollars. The Indian Ministry of Defense recently issued a request for proposals for the purchase of a limited number of 7.62mm assault rifles, submachine guns and pistols for the Air Force special forces. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of contracts aimed at re-equipping the Indian military. Foreign companies are merging with local firms. There is no need to look far for an example, the Israeli company IWI in May 2017 created a joint venture with Punj Lloyd, known as Punj Lloyd Raksha Systems, no joint production of small arms. India's historical opponent Pakistan is also looking for new small arms to replace its G3 and Tour 56 rifles in 7.62x51mm and 7.62x39mm calibers. In search of potential contracts, several bidders, including FN, CZ, Beretta, are closely watching everything that happens in the country in the field of small arms.
