First G95A1 Carbines Enter Service with the Bundeswehr

The first unit to receive the new Heckler & Koch–made rifles is Panzergrenadier Battalion 122 – with approximately 300 rifles being delivered in the initial batch. According to German media, the ceremonial handover of the new weapons will take place on 4 December 2025 at the Grafenwöhr training area. As emphasized by Lieutenant General Heico Hübner, Deputy Inspector of the German Army (Bundeswehr), the military is receiving a weapon system that sets new standards in precision, reliability, and modularity.

G95KA1, the shorter variant of the Bundeswehr’s new rifle, displayed at the Milipol 2025 exhibition in Paris / Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG

The introduction of the new rifle into the armed forces is a significant event for Germany. The official ceremony handing over the first G95 rifles will also be attended by Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki, Head of the Armaments Department at the Federal Ministry of Defense, and Brigadier General Stefan Wind, Head of the Combat Directorate at the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support.

G36 rifles, in numerous variants, have served as the standard armament of German forces since 1997, also achieving export success and entering service, among others, with the Spanish Armed Forces. In 2017, the German Ministry of Defence began looking for a successor. The procurement process was considered one of the most significant competitions in Europe aimed at selecting a new type of personal weapon.

The HK416 is a major modification of the American AR-15, created for the needs of U.S. special operations forces. Its most important modification is the replacement of Stoner’s DI system (direct impingement – gas directed into the bolt carrier, more accurately referred to as an internal piston) with a short-stroke gas piston system. One advantage of this solution is that it prevents some of the gases from entering the receiver, which is associated with certain user-level issues. The HK416 is a proven design and continues to evolve – since the first complete carbines were introduced, the weapon has undergone many upgrades. In Polish special operations units and specialized police formations, it has been widely used for many years, from the earliest models to the currently fielded HK416A5.

The G95 is fully adapted for both right- and left-handed shooters. The safety combined with the fire-selector switch (semi-automatic and fully automatic), the magazine-release buttons, and the bolt-catch release are all duplicated. The T-shaped charging handle is located along the axis of the weapon.

Unlike the M16 and M4 rifles, the fire selector does not rotate by 90 degrees to reach the next position. On European-designed weapons, settings are changed by 45 degrees. This makes operating the weapon intuitive using the thumb of the firing hand on the pistol grip.

An interesting distinguishing feature is the use of an enlarged trigger guard (the so-called winter trigger guard), which allows the weapon to be fired even while wearing thick gloves.

Unlike earlier models, the HK416A8 is equipped with a quick-detach handguard fitted with a section of NATO Accessory Rail (NAR, compliant with STANAG 4694) on the top and bottom, while the sides feature HKey mounting slots. These are non-standard interfaces for which few accessories exist. They are used to attach sling mounts or side NAR rail segments. However, as can be seen in the photos of the new G95 rifles, the manufacturer has implemented a handguard with M-LOK slots.

The stock’s adjustment slider is equipped with a cheek riser, intended to make it easier to achieve a proper cheek weld when using optical and electro-optical sights selected in a separate procurement. The rifle will be paired with the ELCAN SpecterDR 1-4× optical sight.

Heckler & Koch is a brand that needs no introduction. For many years, its products have set benchmarks for quality and have been used worldwide, often manufactured locally under license. A large user base and the continuous refinement of existing solutions have made H&K one of the most proven small-arms suppliers in the world.

However, the Oberndorf factory is not resting on its laurels and continues to develop new solutions that keep pace with emerging trends and evolving operational conditions. One of the latest innovations is the HK421 lightweight machine gun, chambered for full-power rifle ammunition. Compared to general-purpose machine guns such as the MG5, it features significantly reduced weight and dimensions, making it easier to carry, operate, and maneuver. The HK421 could be admired for the first time in Poland at the MSPO 2025 exhibition in Kielce, where it was showcased alongside H&K’s other latest products at the booth of its distributor, CENZIN.

See also:

• Range Day with Heckler & Koch and Cenzin