Barn Owl Lover
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2021
- Posts
- 525
I've been talking about this on HKPro and I'd like to see what you guys' take is on it.
Here's a brief summary. In 2015, it came to light rumors of issues with the HK G36 rifle having accuracy problems due to overheating in Afghanistan. Then German Minister of Defense Ursula Von Der Layen declares the G36 obsolete and wants a new rifle tender to happen (which was supposed to happen in a few years anyways as the G36 was planned to be phased out in a few years). In 2017, various companies, such as HK, Haenel/Caracal, Steyr/Rheinmetall, Sig Sauer and LMT submit rifles to the new tender. In 2018, only HK and Haenel are left, and initally the three rifles submitted (HK433, HK416 and MK556) didn't fully satisfy the tender. So they were given time to refine their designs. In 2019, all three rifles passed the tests with flying colors.
In Sept of 2020, Haenel's MK556 was judged the provisional winner. HK appealed, citing that Haenel used HK over the beach gas system parts, and Haenel was DQ'd after a German court verified HK's claim. Now in 2021, just weeks before announcement of an official winner, Magpul has sent in a complaint to HK and the German Army seeking clarification over HK's Gen 3 Pmags and if they'll be issued with the 416A8, citing possible patent infringement. There's a theory that Haenel/Caracal are at least in part behind this, as they may be using this as an excuse to try to retaliate against HK and the German Army over Haenel getting kicked out of the trial.
In theory, the courts and the German Government don't have to hear the claim or change the tender (which would essentially mean starting over), but they might nevertheless look into it for the sake of the image of impartiality.
What I'm asking is, in addition to opinions on this whole mess, is how the Bundeswher and the Government should proceed. Should they start over, just award the contract to HK for the 416A8, or just upgrade the G36 as HK suggested back in 2015? The latter would mean that some politicians in Germany would have backpedal and eat some crow, but there's an increasing number of politicians who want an end to the trials and are speaking up that the G36 isn't flawed, but is needing and deserving of some upgrades (which HK have made available for export customers).
I for one was hoping that the HK433 would win the tender, as I want more info and materials about it. But given that HK have decided to launch it and offer it for sale as soon as June, my issues with that have worn away. But overall the trial has boiled down to bitching and bickering, and the whole mess has been a showing of bureaucratic ineptitude.
I don't like to get political and know that's also in general frowned upon on this forum. But what do you guys make of this mess and what outcome do you want or find the most fair?
Here's a brief summary. In 2015, it came to light rumors of issues with the HK G36 rifle having accuracy problems due to overheating in Afghanistan. Then German Minister of Defense Ursula Von Der Layen declares the G36 obsolete and wants a new rifle tender to happen (which was supposed to happen in a few years anyways as the G36 was planned to be phased out in a few years). In 2017, various companies, such as HK, Haenel/Caracal, Steyr/Rheinmetall, Sig Sauer and LMT submit rifles to the new tender. In 2018, only HK and Haenel are left, and initally the three rifles submitted (HK433, HK416 and MK556) didn't fully satisfy the tender. So they were given time to refine their designs. In 2019, all three rifles passed the tests with flying colors.
In Sept of 2020, Haenel's MK556 was judged the provisional winner. HK appealed, citing that Haenel used HK over the beach gas system parts, and Haenel was DQ'd after a German court verified HK's claim. Now in 2021, just weeks before announcement of an official winner, Magpul has sent in a complaint to HK and the German Army seeking clarification over HK's Gen 3 Pmags and if they'll be issued with the 416A8, citing possible patent infringement. There's a theory that Haenel/Caracal are at least in part behind this, as they may be using this as an excuse to try to retaliate against HK and the German Army over Haenel getting kicked out of the trial.
In theory, the courts and the German Government don't have to hear the claim or change the tender (which would essentially mean starting over), but they might nevertheless look into it for the sake of the image of impartiality.
What I'm asking is, in addition to opinions on this whole mess, is how the Bundeswher and the Government should proceed. Should they start over, just award the contract to HK for the 416A8, or just upgrade the G36 as HK suggested back in 2015? The latter would mean that some politicians in Germany would have backpedal and eat some crow, but there's an increasing number of politicians who want an end to the trials and are speaking up that the G36 isn't flawed, but is needing and deserving of some upgrades (which HK have made available for export customers).
I for one was hoping that the HK433 would win the tender, as I want more info and materials about it. But given that HK have decided to launch it and offer it for sale as soon as June, my issues with that have worn away. But overall the trial has boiled down to bitching and bickering, and the whole mess has been a showing of bureaucratic ineptitude.
I don't like to get political and know that's also in general frowned upon on this forum. But what do you guys make of this mess and what outcome do you want or find the most fair?