The Bundeswehr has ordered its first batch of new G95A1 standard assault rifles (16.5-inch barrel), along with the shorter-barreled G95KA1 variant (14-inch barrel), to replace the aging G36 rifles, according to the Defence Network.
The switch to the new rifle system started in 2017 with a pan-European tender process, which concluded in 2023.
The G95A1 is based on the HK416 A8 platform, a widely adopted model in NATO forces.
The two variants differ by barrel length: 16.5 inches for the G95A1 and 14 inches for the G95KA1.
Compared to the G36, the new rifles offer improved accuracy but are heavier, largely due to the use of aluminum components instead of high-strength polymer.
Initial testing started in autumn 2023, with the first shipment — 390 rifles and accessories — delivered in September.
Some of the units were sent to the Bundeswehr’s Military Technical Laboratory for Armaments and Ammunition (WTD 91), while others have undergone testing in Arctic, desert, and tropical environments since January 2024.
Field trials have also been conducted within Bundeswehr units.
The tests yielded positive results, in line with the HK416’s existing track record. The rifle is already in service with the armed forces of France, Luxembourg, and Norway.
The Bundeswehr has used the G95K version of the rifle in its Special Operations Forces since 2020.
Serial production of the new rifles may begin ahead of schedule.
In 2022, the Bundeswehr requested the manufacturer expedite delivery timelines, including for prototype units.
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