Bundeswehr selects Haenel MK 556 assault rifle to replace G36
The Bundeswehr announced in a press release on 15 September that C G Haenel has been selected to supply its new assault rifle. Haenel is offering its MK 556 to replace the Bundeswehr’s G36 assault rifle from Heckler & Koch (H&K).
The Bundeswehr has selected Haenel to supply its MK 556 assault rifle to replace the G36. (Haenel)
The Bundeswehr said the decision was not yet legally effective, leaving open the possibility of an appeal from H&K, which was competing with its HK416 and HK433 assault rifles. H&K CEO Jens Bodo Koch was quoted in a 15 September company press release as saying, “We will now examine the decision in detail from a legal perspective and exhaust all legal options.” H&K was “absolutely convinced of the quality of both the HK416 and the HK433. This quality has also been confirmed to us by the Bundeswehr in this tender.”
The necessary funding for the new assault rifle must be approved by the Bundestag, the German parliament, which the Bundeswehr expected by the end of the year.
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