H&K wins the AIF contract with its HK416
Why replace the FAMAS?
Designed to replace the good old automatic rifle Mle 49/56, the Famas brought the French army into the club of assault rifle users (the two most well-known being the American M16/M4 by Eugene Stoner and the Russian AK47/74 by Mikhail Timofeyevich Kalashnikov). But adopted too late in the late 70s, and despite being a little gem of the gunsmith industry (ambidextrous, bull-pup, integrated grenade launcher), our national Clairon quickly suffered from a major flaw: it is impossible to upgrade.
Considered by some as a heavy weapon, difficult to maintain and complicated to repair if damaged, the Famas, unlike its competitors such as the M4 or even the antique Kalashnikov, sees its advantages turn into disadvantages: its reduced size, its handguard with integrated handle prevents any "upgrade", it is impossible to add a tactical handle, a laser designator, a recoil-absorbing stock, a cheek rest, a 40mm grenade launcher or even a simple scope! In short, everything that other assault rifles accept and that make the operator's life much simpler (and sometimes save it) is forbidden to the Famas. Of course, there are adapters, but not for everything. But above all, a major flaw emerges: its ammunition.
Indeed, in the 20th century, France manufactured its own cartridges and its own infantry military weapons in its State Manufactures, such as the Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS). Since ammunition is made first and then the weapon that fires it, the Famas was designed for a 5.56 ammunition that, although identical in appearance to the NATO model, is not interchangeable. However, the production of small-caliber cartridges ceased in the late 90s, and it was necessary to buy cartridges that meet NATO standards... and the problems began: for example, the Famas chamber allows firing lacquered steel cartridges, with brass cases, sometimes causing adhesion problems, and there are no NATO lacquered steel cartridges, as for the French rifling twist, SS109 bullets do not appreciate it, and then there is also the magazine, too fragile, as it was designed to be disposable although it never was for obvious economic reasons.
That is why in 2009, a study for a Future Individual Weapon (AIF) was launched. "The weapon will have the capacity to fire all types of 5.56 mm caliber ammunition to NATO standard (5.56X45mm or .223 Remington), rifle grenades, 40 mm low-velocity grenades. It will integrate into the FELIN system and into the army's simulation means," says the DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement).
The AIF (Future Individual Weapon) contract
In 2014, a European call for tenders was launched to choose the company most capable of supplying the new assault rifle for the French army. In addition to technical specifications, the AIF contract stipulates that production means, supply sources, and the assembly line must be located on European soil to ensure rapid supply and optimal customer service.
In 2015, five contenders were shortlisted by the DGA: Heckler & Koch (Germany), FN Herstal (Belgium), Beretta (Italy), SIG Sauer (Switzerland), and HS Produkt (Croatia).
- The German H&K proposed their HK416, standard in the Dutch and Norwegian armed forces, but especially in many special forces around the world, including American ones such as the JSOC or the French army.
- The company FN Herstal presented their famous SCAR, created for the needs of the United States Special Operations Command (US SOCOM). The SCAR is already used by the Navy Seals, the USMC, some SWAT teams, the GSG-9, and other units in Belgium, Italy, and Poland.
- The Italian Beretta competed with their ARX 160. The weapon is used in Italy, Albania, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan.
- The firm SIG Sauer presented the SIG 516 assault rifle, adopted by the Swiss, Argentine, Egyptian, and Serbian armies.
- Finally, the Croatian HS Produkt, the fifth and last contender, entered the race with their VHS-D1.
The 4 main competitors in the running, HK, FN Herstal, Beretta, and Sig Sauer, had the experience, know-how, and technology, not to mention the logistics that must be flawless, the outsider, HS, even if it had a chance, risked resembling the frog from the fable, but who knows? We did adopt in 1936 the ultimate descendant of the weapon invented 50 years earlier by the brilliant Paul Mauser, the MAS36 bolt-action rifle, while the same year the Americans invented the semi-automatic Garand rifle...
The HK416 replaces the FAMAS
The five assault rifles presented to the DGA for the AIF contract have all proven themselves in the field, particularly the SCAR and the HK416, which are standard in many Special Forces units around the world. After months of real-world testing and studying the different logistics chains proposed by the competing companies, Heckler & Koch was selected in early September, thus winning a contract valued between 300 and 400 million euros over several years. This is not the first HK rifle in service in France; the Police have been using G36s since the beginning of the year.
The HK 416 is derived from a proven system, invented by Eugene Stoner in the late 50s while he was working for the Armalite company and better known as the AR15 or M16 in its military version and now M4. Heckler & Koch improved the mechanism by solving the fouling problem due to the direct gas impingement system by adding a piston... Simple but it had to be thought of. It is a reliable, solid, accurate, and easy-to-maintain weapon, which is what is required of a military weapon.
The choice of the HK 416 is undoubtedly a pragmatic and sensible choice, and given the rigors of the tests endured, it is undoubtedly the best of the five that was chosen!
Fan of HK? Discover how to properly configure your HK416.