Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential
Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
French Armed Forces receive around 60,000 HK416F assault rifles
HK416F is compatible with FELIN equipment. (Photo: DGA)
Deliveries to date of HK416F assault rifles equate to 50% of the total amount acquired by the MoD in 2016.
French procurement agency DGA announced on 14 March that the armed forces have received 59,340 HK416F rifles to date. This equates to 50% of the total amount acquired by the MoD in 2016, which comprised 117,000 guns.
A total of 2,000 weapons was delivered in 2022, and other 12,000 HK416Fs are expected to be handed over by the end of the year.
The HK416 assault rifle was selected to gradually replace all FAMAS rifles that are currently in service with the French Army, Navy and Air and Space Force.
The contract worth approximately €168 million ($185 million) was awarded to a consortium involving Heckler & Koch and its French subsidiary in September 2016, and deliveries began in May 2017.
The agreement comprised the procurement of two HK416F variants: a standard version with a 14.5-inch (36.8cm) barrel length to equip infantry units and a shorter model with an 11-inch barrel for other units.
According to a DGA press release, this assault rifle is scalable and able to integrate new technologies, especially in the field of optics and aiming.
Compatible with the FELIN soldier system, it features NATO 5.56mm calibre and has a low-speed grenade launcher capability.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Land Warfare
-
![Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential]()
-
![Elbit bets on local content for US howitzer bid as it faces off against popular systems]()
Elbit bets on local content for US howitzer bid as it faces off against popular systems
The Israeli company hopes that producing its Sigma artillery system wholly in the US will help it win a key US Army contract, but it will be up against the popular CAESAR Mk II wheeled weapon and the K9 tracked.
-
![Germany orders 84 Boxer howitzers as UK commits to a single demonstrator]()
Germany orders 84 Boxer howitzers as UK commits to a single demonstrator
Germany has ordered 84 RCH 155 self-propelled guns, as system incorporating Boxer 8×8 vehicles and the Artillery Gun Module, and 200 Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles while the UK has committed to a single Early Capability Demonstrator RCH 155.
-
![Companies look to tank-launched guided projectiles for non-line-of-sight effects]()
Companies look to tank-launched guided projectiles for non-line-of-sight effects
While integration of guided weapons on modern armoured vehicles usually takes the form of a podded launcher on the turret exterior, recent developments suggest the concept of firing missiles from a tank’s main gun could be seeing a revival.
-
![Germany signs multi-billion-dollar deals for 6x6 CAVS and GDELS Eagle vehicles]()
Germany signs multi-billion-dollar deals for 6x6 CAVS and GDELS Eagle vehicles
The order is a further boost for the Common Armoured Vehicles System programme which has notched notable successes in the past 12 months. The first vehicle, made in Finland, will be delivered next year with local production expected to ramp up in 2027.
-
![Rheinmetall and KNDS tank tie-up narrows trans-European options]()
Rheinmetall and KNDS tank tie-up narrows trans-European options
The French and German governments signed an agreement in June 2018 to cooperate on the development of a new main battle tank under the Main Ground Combat System programme but the effort has struggled. This new agreement may damage it further.
