As previously reported, the French Army’s new service rifle will be the Heckler & Koch HK416F.

The HK416F replaces the rather old FAMAS, and you can sense the depression in the air as this happens, they are letting go of an old friend.

5 000 units are supposed to be delivered in 2017, and the first units seem to have arrived already.

The “Armée de Terre” (French Army) are releasing various videos to introduce the new rifle, and there are two attached below which includes fully automatic shooting, taking the 416F for a swim and all sorts of other abuse as well as explaining the different versions they have bought.

Unfortunately, you see a lot of “baguette holding” of the HK416F so I hope the soldiers get the proper training how to shoot.

FAMAS to HK416F morph.

To be replaced by Heckler & Koch HK416F.

I can understand that they keep the grip to “morph” in the video, but I seriously hope they develop their rifle holding skills once they get warm in the clothes with the 416F. Please use the full length of the hand guard when shooting like this.

Below: The HK416F takes a swim. Note the HK metal magazines. This is one of the best magazines ever, works in an AR15 too. Worth the price? Yes.

Below: Rare picture of a HK416 with a bayonet.

Magazines, bipod, sling, bayonette, protection cap, blank firing parts etc. is part of the package from HK and demonstrated in the video.

Not sure which bipod the French Army has selected, but here it’s clearly visible. Again, not the best way of holding a rifle.

Below: Four reasons why the French Army chose the 416F

1. Reliability
2. Precision
3. Robustness
4. Easy to use

Below: EOTech:ed HK416F. Again, that’s not a great way of holding a rifle, and I would not have the stock extended that far. Note the HK original Generation 2 magazine which TFB reported about in a recent article.

I ordered a few, and it’s a very nice, high quality (very expensive compared to Magpul) magazine.

The short version below has a note: “Will have the same performance as the standard version up to 200 meters. No possibility to use a 40 mm grenade launcher.” (simply because there’s no space on the rail).

Money wise, the total contract with Heckler & Koch is worth EUR 168 million (USD 177 million).

According to the French Ministry of Defense 93 080 pieces of Heckler & Koch 416F will be delivered between 2017 and 2028. By 2022 half of the H&K firearms should have been delivered, so the HK factories will be very busy with this and similar orders.

The breakdown of deliveries will be 38 505 units will be the HK416F Standard version and 54 575 units will be of the HK416F Short version.

 

H&K 416F (Française) – Specifications in short:

Based on the HK416 A5 with a cold-hammered barrel, six grooves and a right hand spin

HK416F Standard <90 cm (14.5″ barrel)

Weight: 4 kg

HK416F Short <80 cm (11″ barrel)

Weight: 3,7 kg

France will also get 10,767 pieces of the HK269F (40 x 46 mm) grenade launchers, which most likely equates as one per group. The grenade launcher can be seen on the picture below.

Now, for the videos:

And the second one, how to assemble and disassemble the rifle.

HK 416 F : Démontage, entretien et remontage