Image source: topwar.ru
For a long time, the Bundeswehr's main assault rifle was the Heckler & Koch G36, adopted in 1995. Its external structure and most of the parts that are not subject to extreme loads are made of high-strength carbon fiber. The full-size G36 (weighing 3.63 kg) weighs almost as much as the Soviet AK-74M (3.60 kg), but the German rifle has a significantly longer barrel (480 mm versus 415 mm for the AK) and is equipped with integrated dual optics (collimator and 3x sight).
In 2012-2015, a high-profile political and judicial scandal unfolded around these weapons. Soldiers in Afghanistan were faced with the fact that after firing 2-3 magazines in a row in hot conditions, the plastic barrel attachment softened, which caused the G36 to lose accuracy of fire (the average point of impact shifted by several meters at a distance of 200 m). This was the reason for the decision to gradually replace the rifle in the German army.
G95:
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In September 2020, the German Ministry of Defense unexpectedly announced the winner of the tender, a small company named C.G. Haenel with its MK 556 rifle, which beat Heckler. & Koch for the price. However, a month later, the results of the competition were annulled. H&K sued, proving that Haenel infringed the patent for the design of the bolt group, after which the contract for a quarter of a billion euros returned to H&K with its 5.56 x 45 mm HK416A8 model, which received the G95A1 army index.
The G95 will enter service in December 2025. To date, more than 12 thousand units have been transferred to the troops. The other day, the Bundeswehr showed a video showing how the military is mastering its use. One of the instructors states:
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On the other hand, he adds, the rifle "requires much more lubrication than the G36, which is mostly made of plastic, due to the large number of metal parts."
The instructor explains that the excellent recoil control of the rifle is due to several factors. Firstly, the arm rest on the underside of the forearm makes it easy to press the rifle against the shoulder. Secondly, the G95 recoil spring is located in the butt, unlike the G36, where it is located in front of it. This ensures that the recoil force is concentrated closer to the body and, therefore, facilitates its absorption.:
Image source: topwar.ru
According to him, already during the first training, the soldiers noticed that the accuracy was significantly higher than that of the G36. This is due to the possibility of extended customization of the G95 to the individual needs of the shooter.:
By 2032, over 250,000 G95 rifles are expected to be delivered to the Bundeswehr, including 20,000 in the KA1 modification: this version is several centimeters shorter than the standard A1 version.
