The German Bundeswehr purchased a "silent" rifle based on the HK437 model from the Heckler & Koch company for the needs of special forces units, and is intended, as a more modern weapon, to replace the MP5.
According to information from the Hartpunkt portal, the German Ministry of Defense signed a contract in February 2024 for the supply of special rifles for its own special forces, ArmyInform reports.
Rifles developed on the basis of HK437 in caliber .300 Blackout (7.62 x 35 mm) will enter service with the Bundeswehr under the index G39. They are to replace the outdated special MP5 submachine guns with an integrated silencer.
The newest model of special weapons began to be searched for in the fall of 2022. The tender provided for the supply of a ready-made "rifle-cartridge" complex, as well as relevant accessories. In addition to the low level of noise when fired, the requirement was guaranteed damage to "soft" and protected targets at a distance of up to 200 meters with supersonic and subsonic cartridges.
In addition, the new weapon had to have a mechanical sight, an adjustable butt length, an automatic fire mode with and without a silencer, and the weight with an empty magazine should not exceed 3300 g.
The HK437 works on the principle of indirect exhaust with a short-stroke piston, which reduces recoil and improves controllability when shooting. The weapon is equipped with a rotating shutter head locking system, which ensures high reliability and increased shooting accuracy.
The HK437 uses a standard 30-round soft-core magazine mechanism that provides sufficient rate of fire without the need for reloading. Available fire modes include single shots or single/continuous fire, allowing the user to quickly adapt to different combat situations. The trigger force varies from 25 to 35 N, providing a balance between safety and responsiveness.
The rate of fire can reach 850 rounds per minute, a feature that, combined with the magazine capacity, makes the HK437 quite effective in close combat. The barrel profile features an 8-inch (203 mm) right-hand rifling, optimized for long-range cartridge accuracy and stability.
The HK437 features improved ergonomics and a safety/fire switch lever that moves 45° for quick switching between firing modes. The width of the weapon varies from 73 mm to 106 mm depending on the configuration, it has an adjustable stock with 84 mm of travel and 7 locking positions, as well as an adjustable stop under the cheek with 21 mm of travel and 4 locking positions, which allows the user to adjust the weapon for optimal comfort during combat.
The rifle is offered in two versions with a barrel length of 7 and 9 inches. In the last version, the rifle without cartridges weighs only 3140 grams. The total length without a silencer is from 537 mm (folded stock) to 795 mm (expanded stock).
The height of the weapon is 242 mm and 210 mm without a magazine. The length of the sight bar on the receiver reaches 375 mm, which allows the use of various optics.
"In the G39 variant, the HK437 has a 9-inch (229 mm) barrel and is equipped with an advanced silencer from A-TEC," Military Leak reports.
The German Special Operations Forces will receive the rifle in a 9-inch version and with an A-TEC silencer. Heckler & Koch and Norwegian signature reduction specialist A-TEC have been collaborating since 2022 on the development and distribution of their product lines. Silencers designed to reduce gunshot noise and muzzle flash, thereby minimizing damage to the user's hearing and making it difficult for the enemy to detect the shooter.
If we resort to historical comparisons, experts believe that conceptually the HK437 repeats the principle of operation of the Vyntorez GSS (Sniper Special Rifle) and the Val AS (Special Machine Gun), which use similar subsonic cartridges of 9x39 mm caliber. .
Shots with such cartridges are quiet. When the bullet exits the barrel, it does not cross the sound barrier, which is accompanied by a loud sound effect.
According to information made public in Germany, the special forces of the Bundeswehr will initially receive 176 basic sets of special weapons with sound absorption. According to the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technologies and Use of the Bundeswehr, a total of 988 G39 HK437 units will be needed for the complete rearmament of the relevant special forces of the German Army.
Meanwhile, as ArmiyaInform reported, since the beginning of February, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has issued registration certificates for 20 samples of foreign-made small arms. Among them, in particular, are the products of the world-famous manufacturer - Heckler & Koch GmbH.
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