Heckler & Koch CONFIRMED Winner of French AIF Rifle Contract; FN to Appeal French Decision

[Vergennes]

Multiple French news outlets are confirming the victory of Heckler & Koch’s HK416 rifle in the French Army’s AIF (Arme Individuelle du Futur – Future Individual Weapon) program to replace the FAMAS, in which it has evidently unseated the FN SCAR, its closest competitor in that competition.

While an official announcement is still pending, numerous sites like BFM Business, Les Echos, and – most convincingly – Les Sentinelles, have all been reporting the decision, which could net the Rottweil-based gunmaker up to 400 million Euros.

While this is good news for Heckler & Koch, it seems that Belgian gunmaker Fabrique National does not plan to go down without a fight: An article on La Meus.be reports that FN will appeal the decision in the Administrative Court of the French government.

Further details have also emerged: The new rifles will apparently not be made under license, as the French government could find no French manufacturer who could produce a high enough quantity of weapons to meet the French Army’s needs.

Instead, the French government will purchase 16,000 rifles per year from the winner (presumably Heckler & Koch), to fulfill a contract for at least 90,000 rifles total, with some sources saying up to 101,000 rifles will be purchased.

The 300-400 million Euro contract will cover not only the cost of the rifles, but reportedly also life cycle costs for the next 30 years.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/...aif-rifle-contract-fn-appeal-french-decision/

 

[Louiq XIV]

The HK416 sounds good to me but 400 million €uros for 101000 guns over 30 years makes 3960€ per gun ? HK416 are nice but not cheap. I've used the FAMAS in the 90's and loved it.

 

[Norge Stronk]

Guess the SCAR isn't so great after all, despite the over enthusiastic support from a few PDF members. Hey Pakistan!! Here's your next rifle:

Great choice, France. The HK416 is workhorse.

 

[gangsta_rap]

The new rifles will apparently not be made under license, as the French government could find no French manufacturer who could produce a high enough quantity of weapons to meet the French Army’s needs.

@Zarvan We're in trouble now!!

If French gunmakers can't make do with that how will POF manage?

 

[Zarvan]

@Zarvan We're in trouble now!!

If French gunmakers can't make do with that how will POF manage?

No we are not trouble POF has produced Guns in the past it would produce now. I have serious questions of French claims.

Guess the SCAR isn't so great after all, despite the over enthusiastic support from a few PDF members. Hey Pakistan!! Here's your next rifle:

Great choice, France. The HK416 is workhorse.

SCAR is great weapon and adopted by different forces from around the world. And number of countries adopting SCAR are increasing

 

[untitled]

Why is the FAMAS being replaced and why have the French dumped the bullpup?

Is this the end of the MAS series of rifles?

Great choice, France. The HK416 is workhorse.

How come you always forget your login details?

 

[Vergennes]

@Zarvan We're in trouble now!!

If French gunmakers can't make do with that how will POF manage?

No we are not trouble POF has produced Guns in the past it would produce now. I have serious questions of French claims.

Different situations. We ceased Famas' production in the 90's and the manufacture d'armes of Saint-Etienne closed in 2001,leaving us with no big enough manufacturers who could produce a high quantity of weapons to meet our needs.

SCAR is great weapon and adopted by different forces from around the world. And number of countries adopting SCAR are increasing

Same can be said about the 416,which is now being adopted by entire armed forces. (Norway and supposedly France and soon Germany.) @Norge Stronk

 

[Norge Stronk]

SCAR is great weapon and adopted by different forces from around the world.

It's so great French Special Forces ditched it for... you guessed it, the HK416.

SCAR was shown to have structural defects which compromised the integrity of the weapons long-term. On a costly platform like SCAR, that's not good.

Same can be said about the 416,which is now being adopted by entire armed forces. (Norway and supposedly France and soon Germany.) @Norge Stronk

Yup. SCAR is used by a lot of nations, but mainly special forces or special police groups. Few military branches use it as their primary. It's too costly and still has structural issues making it less reliable long-term.

The HK416 on the other hand is replacing the standard service rifle of many nations. The German G36 to be replaced by HK416:

France's Famas as well:

Our AG3 is still in limited service with HV groups, though in HV RRTs its been replaced with the HK416. It's standard in non-HV units like Telemark Battalion, 2 battalion, and Panserbataljonen.

NASA's ERT even carries the HK416!! How cool is that?

Yes, that's not a 416. I couldn't find a good pic. Deal with it!

HK416 > SCAR.

How come you always forget your login details?

Forgot my login details? But I'm logged in right now.