#HK416F

The French Army sent a souvenir from the 2024 Summer Olympics, and because we like firearms it’s a pretty good share for the readers of TFB’s Photo Of The Day. There are at least four Heckler & Koch HK416F rifles in this image, with both EOTech and Aimpoint sights. I spot more empty holsters than Glocks. Can you see it as well? (Hint: second from the left).

Photo Of The Day: Established in 2014, this is TFB’s way to show carefully selected photographs daily together with a brief story. Hopefully, you’ll learn something new and interesting. We also welcome comments in the intended section below. Today we have some Heckler & Koch HK416F for you, the French version of HK416. This one has an  EOTech Holographic Weapon Sight.

Ever since photography was invented in the early 1800s, it has been a medium of limitless possibilities. Today most people have at least a smartphone to capture what’s going on around, and the professionals use even more advanced cameras and optics. At TFB we’ve been running our Photo Of The Day for years, where we share the best photos with firearms. Today we’re looking at images from the  35e régiment d’infanterie in France. The images are from Operation Sentinel in Dijon, France. We see a combination of the soon-to-be-phased-out bullpup FAMAS and the new Heckler & Koch HK416F as the soldier patrol the streets.

The FN Minimi on full-automatic fire is always a pleasure to see in pictures, not to mention in real-life. Developed by Ernest Vervier, it is widely adopted and used by more than 75 countries. The U.S. Army calls it the M249 SAW light machine gun. The Para version, with a short barrel and a telescopic buttstock, is used by the French Army, and here by the 35e régiment d’infanterie.

We’re used to Cerakoted firearms in all sorts of colors these days, but the Military uses mainly black, FDE or green ones. In our Photo Of The Day, we have an exception, the French orange Heckler & Koch HK416F for training. This version comes with a blank firing device and 3 magazines in yellow, to differentiate them and facilitate instruction.

Nothing to do? Each day you are welcome to TFB’s selection of photo highlights. If you’re lucky you may learn something on the way. Today’s Photo Of The Day includes soldiers from the French Foreign Legion with their short Heckler & Koch HK416 rifles in the jungle.

Our Photo Of The Day brings some French cuisine to the table. I understand why the manufacturer abbreviated “Fusil d’Assaut de la Manufacture d’Armes de Saint-Étienne” the way they did. FAMAS is a lot easier to pronounce and remember. Don’t you agree?

Photo Of The Day and the  173rd Airborne Brigade is back with some more images. We’re looking at platoon exercise evaluations in the Hohenfels Training Area (Germany) where The Rock and the 8e RPIMa from France spent some time together. The training was a part of Exercise Rock Topside II, taking place at the Joint Multinational Training Center in Hohenfels, Germany. Above we have a HK416F with an EOTech sight. Yellow means it’s been configured for training.

Photo Of The Day, with ceremonial pictures from the French 35e régiment d’Infanterie as the unit changes command. Pictures of French soldiers with the old FAMAS rifles are getting rare as it’s being replaced by the Heckler & Koch HK416F, which was selected in 2016. The first batch of 400 rifles was delivered in 2017, and the order will not be fulfilled until 2028. 

I have lived a few years in France, but unfortunately, my French is too weak (without red wine) to make professional translations. My understanding is that this is a memorial from the First World War and that the soldiers are paying their respects to the people and soldiers who did not make it. They have not forgotten.

Machine gun overwatch.

Photo Of The Day: Today we have a few pictures of the old French FAMAS and their new Heckler & Koch HK416F. The FAMAS above seems to have the controls of the FÉLIN system (Fantassin à Équipement et Liaisons Intégrés or Integrated Infantryman Equipment and Communications), but missing quite a few of the other parts that are supposed to be mounted. Note the integration of the bipod.

Photo Of The Day: The 13ème régiment de dragons parachutistes, or the 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment, is one of few regiments under the supervision of the French Army Special Forces Command. Their specialty is reconnaissance, exploration and gathering of intelligence, and their motto is Au-delà du possible (“Beyond the possible”).