Heckler & Koch is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of small arms with roots in Germany. For more than 60 years, they have been developing and manufacturing various types of firearms.

Their 40 mm Grenade systems may not be what they are most famous for, but if you take care to study photos of various armies you will definetly see them around. Like the one below, the M320 Grenade Launcher Module on a Norwegian HK416.

As a reference, here is a link to H&K’s current 40 mm Systems: https://www.heckler-koch.com/en/products/military/40-mm-systems.html

According to several sources, including Strategie & Technik and ES&T, Heckler & Koch are developing a new a low velocity multiple grenade launcher in caliber 40mm x 46 for Police and Military applications.

The working name is HK369 and the focus for H&K is on ergonomics and modularity. The design is fully ambidextrous.

“Low velocity” means that the grenade will be flying around 75 meters per second (about 167 mph).

As you can see the HK369 concept has a drum magazine, not unlike the South African Milkor MGL, currently in service with the USMC as the M32.

Apart from offering a higher capacity in terms of ammunition (number of 40 mm grenades), a drum magazine design offers some potential benefits for the operator.

For instance you can have Less Lethal ammunition combined with riot control CS Gas, and more offensive types of ammunition in the drum. Just make sure you have each chamber clearly marked, so you don’t shoot a bean bag into an armoured vehicle and vice versa. The drawback is of course added weight, and more complexity.

You have of course noticed the integrated NATO STANAG 4694 Picatinny rail on the top of the firearm, to accommodate a red dot sight for instance. There is also a trigger, a safety as well as a telescoping stock, with a pretty minimalist look, probably in an effort to reduce weight. Still the design looks like it should offer enough support between the shoulder and the firearm, as there are two retractable “rods” (see top picture).

The stock has a very high position, over the barrel in-fact. This should mean that the recoil control should be very controllable, especially with the vertical front grip.

You can check the Chiappa Firearms Rhino revolver for some more inspiration, which is also a very recoil-friendly design. Compared to the older HK169 Greande Launcher (pictured below) the stock is quite different.

 

 

The designation HK369 comes from the new H&K nomenclature. The first digit represents the generation of the firearm, the second digit is HK’s code for “grenade launcher” and the third digit is for the caliber 40 mm. Over two years ago, TFB covered the new Heckler & Koch nomenclature, in an article, here’s a recap.

Decryption of the new H&K nomenclature (LEAF Firearms):

HK XXX

First Digit:

In 2017, we didn’t know what this digit represented, but it seems the first digit is the generation of the firearm. Some examples below:

1 HK121, HK123, HK169 (i.e. Heckler & Koch MG4s and MG5s)

2 HK233, HK237, HK241, HK269

3 HK337

4 HK433, HK437 (416 and 417 are exceptions).

Second Digit:

1 Unknown or not used.

2 Machine Gun. Full Auto. Belt fed.

3 Assault Rifle. Full Auto.

4 Rifle. Semi-Automatic.

5 Unknown or not used

6 40 mm System

Third Digit: (Caliber)

1   7,62×51 NATO

2   Unknown or not used

3  5,56×45 NATO

4  Unknown or not used

5  Unknown or not used

6  Unknown or not used

7 .300 Blackout/Whisper

8  Unknown or not used

9 40 mm

 

Heckler & Koch will most likely be releasing the HK369 in around 2022.

 

Other new H&K firearms that could interest you are the Heckler & Koch 417P.

Photos by Heckler & Koch.

Sources: STRATEGIE & TECHNIK, Jan-P. Weisswange and Europäische Sicherheit & Technik ES&T.