Heckler & Koch released a statement earlier today addressing the Bundeswehr’s selection of the C.G. Haenel MK556 over HK’s HK416 and new HK433 rifles.

Heckler & Koch HK433

The statement was released in German, below is a machine translation:

Heckler & Koch was informed today that neither of its two offers should be included in the assault rifle tender of the Bundeswehr.

“Subject to an extensive legal review, we regret this decision”, says CEO Jens Bodo Koch. “At the same time, we are absolutely convinced of the quality of both the HK416 and the HK433. This quality has also been confirmed to us by the Bundeswehr in the context of this tender. We don’t have to shy away from competition with our products. ”

This is also shown by the order books, which are still very well filled. “The number of orders from all over the world is higher than we can currently process and the demand remains high,” continues Koch. “Heckler & Koch is and will remain a profitable company again.”

For this reason, in the view of the Executive Board, there are no direct consequences for the employees at the Oberndorf location. “After changing the majority shareholder a few weeks ago, we announced that the jobs in Oberndorf were secure. Nothing has changed about that, ”explains CFO Björn Krönert.

The offer submitted by Heckler & Koch for the Bundeswehr’s new assault rifle was based on the company’s extensive experience with orders of this size, on a realistic and conscientious cost calculation for a high-tech product, and on the company’s responsibility for maintaining 950 jobs at the site Oberndorf. The triad of tradition, know-how and corporate responsibility has resulted in Heckler & Koch products in demand worldwide for more than 70 years.

For the Bundeswehr tender, Heckler & Koch improved the already technically highly developed HK416 again and verifiably met all tender conditions. This rifle has blossomed into the European assault rifle since its launch. It is used in numerous NATO countries, on the one hand as a standard weapon in Norway, France and in the US Marine Corps, and as an assault rifle among many others in the special forces of the USA, Poland and Great Britain. The Bundeswehr Special Forces Command (KSK) and combat swimmers are currently introducing this weapon as the G95k.

“We will now examine the decision in detail from a legal perspective and exhaust all legal options,” says CEO Jens Bodo Koch.

Heckler & Koch HK433 Photo: Concamo.

Earlier today the Bundeswehr made an announcement confirming the selection of the Haenel MK556. As yet there has been no comment from Haenel themselves. The likelihood of a challenge to the selection seems high. TFB will continue to report on the story as it develops.

Source: Heckler & Koch statement (German)

Heckler & Koch HK416A5

You can find official information about the Heckler & Koch HK433 here and the HK416 here.

For more pictures check out the Concamo Photoshoot with Heckler & Koch HK416A7 and HK433 (Version 5) with ELCAN and EOTech.

In similar news: Heckler & Koch 2020 – Successful and Profitable Again