Heckler & Koch G36
The Heckler & Koch G36 (Gewehr 36) is an assault rifle designed in the early 1990s by German weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch. It is chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO, and replaced the heavier G3 battle rifle chambered in 7.62×51mm. The G36 was accepted into service with the Bundeswehr in 1997. Since then, it has been a popular export, and has seen active service in military and police units in several countries, including Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The G36 is gas-operated and feeds from a 30-round detachable box magazine or 100-round C-Mag drum magazine.
| Heckler & Koch G36 | |
|---|---|
The HK G36 | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin | Germany |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997–present |
| Used by | 40+ countries (see Users) |
| Wars | See Conflicts |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Heckler & Koch |
| Designed | 1990–1995 |
| Manufacturer | Heckler & Koch Santa Bárbara Sistemas Military Industries Corporation |
| Produced | 1996–present |
| No. built | 260,000+ |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.63 kg (8.00 lb) |
| Length | 999 mm (39.3 in) stock extended / 758 mm (29.8 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | 480 mm (18.9 in) |
| Width | 64 mm (2.5 in) |
| Height | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
| Action | Short-stroke piston, closed rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 750 rounds/min |
| Muzzle velocity | 920 m/s (3,018 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 600 metres (660 yd) |
| Maximum firing range | 2,860 metres (3,130 yd) |
| Feed system | 30-round proprietary detachable box magazine 100-round C-Mag drum magazine STANAG magazines (with optional adaptor) |
| Sights | Reflex sight with 1× magnification, telescopic sight with 3× magnification (export version has a 1.5× magnified sight) and back-up fixed notch sight Picatinny rails for various optics (later models) |
In 2012, the G36 was found to suffer from significant accuracy issues due to thermal expansion of the barrel, prompting a search for a replacement. In 2017, the Bundeswehr launched the System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr, a program designed to field a replacement for the G36. The weapons put forth were the Heckler & Koch HK416, Heckler & Koch HK433, and the Haenel MK 556. The G95A1 and G95KA1, both variants of the HK416, were selected in 2022.