Lithuania orders Heckler & Koch rifles
The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence has signed an agreement with Heckler & Koch for the procurement of G36 automatic rifles and under-barrel HK269 40mm grenade launchers, the ministry announced on 29 August.
The deal, worth around USD$14 million, will see the Lithuanian armed forces take delivery of the weapons during 2017.
The G36 automatic rifle will be improved based on recommendations from the Lithuanian defence force. The sight rails, handguards and buttstocks on the rifles will be modified and the updated weapon will be called G36 KA4M1 in Lithuanian service.
The new HK269 under-barrel grenade launchers will differ from those currently in service with the ability to be charged by opening a barrel to both sides, as opposed to the fielded version that may be opened to only one side.
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