No, that is not a typo. They are actually replacing a 5.56 rifle with a 7.62 NATO one…at least temporarily. I thought they would have gone with the 416.
It appears that saying that the HK417 is going to replace the G36 is about as accurate as saying - seven years ago - that the HK416 is going to replace the M249 for the Marines.
At least for the time being, they’re only buying 600 HK417s - along with 600 MG4s - and those HK417s are supposed to be slated for troops deploying to combat zones. And only 60 of those 600 rifles are slated to be delivered this year.
Now, I don’t know how many German troops are engaged in combat engagements overseas, but 600 seems a little light. Especially in light of the German article which appears to say that the HK417s are being purchased to supplement the G36 - sort of in the fashion that the UK bought LMT L129A1s and the US brought out the M14s and issued M110s to regular units overseas.
Another interesting thing is that the article calls the rifles the G27P. Now, G27 is the designation for the HK417 in German service, but I wonder what the ‘P’ stands for.
Hell, bring back the G3 
The only use for “P” I’ve seen in German military weapons’ abbreviations are Police, Pistol and Precision as in ‘Präzisionsschützengewehr.’
It would be awesome if they brought back the .308. They held out longer than most.
Well we brought the M1A out of moth balls and accurized it, developed the SCAR-H/Mk 17 Mod 0, and the Brits adopted the L129A1 so I guess the Germans decided they too needed a modern MBR/DMR in 7.62 NATO . . . good on them.
Hitler Reacts to News The G36 Is Crap:
“But even the Jews make better weapons than we do”.
“Call the Jews and tell them we’re sorry and ask them if they will sell us some Tavors”.
:lol:
They already had a bunch of G3s in this role. Maybe they are just phasing them out and the paper is misinterpreting. Either way, nice rifle.
“The only thing the G36 inspires is airsoft accessories!”
“P” stands for Patrol; this differentiates from the G2 DMR. In this pic, Patrol on top and DMR on bottom:
If all the newly issued G27Ps come standard with an S&B Short Dot that would explain the price, €18 million for 600 rifles and 600 MGs is still a lot of dough though. You can probably outfit an entire division with M4A1s for that price.
Meh, give me a KAC SR-25.
Took the words right out of my mouth.
Still a nice gun though.
So what’s the difference between that DMR and the G28? Because I’m pretty sure that’s a G28.
I have an ECC. Best rifle ever.
I’ve shot a friend’s MR762 and it’s a worthy successor to the G3.
Typo, I meant G28.
Patrol: short handguard, regular buttstock (no cheek riser). Makes it 1.6 Kg lighter.
Isn’t that a standard G27 (HK417), then?
G28E3 (patrol configuration) is still G28 rifle with some parts changed on user level (scope, handguard and stock) - means it is MR308 (think NR762)with steel upper receiver and heavy barrel (but chrome lined in military variant). It is semi-auto (and retains some anti-FA features as MR308/762).
G27P is HK417 - select fire battle rifle, with “normal” profile barrel, fitted with optics that allows for better target acquisition. Germans are no “replacing G36” with it. They are “replacing some G36” with it in infantry squad to increase ability to put aimed and effective fire at longer rangers, when G36 in 5.56 is not effective. Italians made same move few years ago (also with HK417).
It is not indication of general movement toward 7.62 NATO, as other part of this purchase is MG4 - belt fed MG in 5.56 NATO.
The move back to battle rifles has been a pipe dream for old timers who trained on the M14 in basic but got out of the service before seeing any action with either the M14 or the M16. But the only way we’ll change from 5.56, I’m thinking, is if they found a true universal round. Of course, that brings up another question about a hypothetical “universal” round: Would it be the best of both worlds or the worst?