“The G27P (HK417) will replace two 5.56mm G36’s in front line infantry squads to make up for the failure of 5.56mm to deal with threat targets at ranges beyond that of 5.56mm rifles. The Italian Army is doing the same thing for the same reason (ARX200 in 7.62mm) as is the US with the CSASS which HK is still a competing bidder with an HK417 variant. There was talk that the balance of the HK416’s in these same German infantry units would be replaced with HK416’s and that the rest of the support forces would stay with G36. That likely will change with all the bad press on the G36. The Germans have expressed interest in a caliber between 5.56mm and 7.62mm (as have many other countries - UK, Norway, Spain, France, Canada, the US) but they know that until/unless the US changes NATO will not.”
HK417 a CSASS submission? That is news to me, last a saw they did not have a variant that covered most of the requirements. I’m pulling for KAC, but last I heard Rem Def is blowing everyone away with the changed they made last cycle. Not that nay of it matters there is still no funding and it was not on the last budget submission.
So, they’re not really replacing the current 5.56 rifles as much as they are using the HK417s being used alongside them. Pretty much the same thing the U.S. military been doing for 15 years with the M14s and SCAR-Hs and development of the designated marksman.
The Germans have expressed interest in a caliber between 5.56mm and 7.62mm (as have many other countries - UK, Norway, Spain, France, Canada, the US) but they know that until/unless the US changes NATO will not."
I have to wonder, do they mean simply a bigger caliber with a longer effective range like the 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel, or are they talking about a universal caliber like 7x46mm Murray concept?
G27 is the designation for the standard model HK417 in German government service. Not certain what the “P” stands for in the designation of this particular weapon system, however.
And I wouldn’t put money on the G36 being on the way out, nor on the HK416 being its replacement. Not yet, anyway.
In any case, saying that the “G36 is being replaced by the HK417” seems about as accurate as saying that “The Marines are replacing the M9 with the M1911 (in the form of the M45)”.