The U.S. Army has funded the acquisition of 5,000+ HK417 rifles in their FY19 budget. Two programs account for the acquisition, the Squad Designated Marksman Rifle Program (SDMR) and the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper Systems (CSASS). The rifle will be a variant of Heckler & Koch’s COTS 417 optimized for optics and ammunition requirements . In 2016 HK was awarded a contract worth $44.5 million under the CSASS program for 3,463 rifles, which will likely be expanded under the FY19 budget to include additional systems for SDMR.
The Heckler & Koch HK417 is a NATO 7.62×51 version of the HK416 assault rifle. The HK417 was introduced in 2005. German versions of this rifle, designated G27 and G28 are in use by the German Army. The HK417 rifle is also in service with 20 other countries.
The HK417 is a gas-operated, selective-fire weapon. It traces its origins back to the Colt M4 carbine, that is widely used by the US military. Its predecessor, the HK416, is an improved version of the M4, but independently made and modified by the Heckler & Koch. Internally it resembles Stoner-designed weapons, such as the M16, however it uses a patented short stroke gas piston system, derived from the Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle.
Specifications:
- Country of origin: Germany
- Entered service: 2005
- Caliber: 7.62×51 mm NATO
- Weight: ~ 4.23 kg (varies with configuration)
- Length: 1 005 – 1 085 mm
- Barrel length: 508 mm
- Muzzle velocity: 789 m/s
- Cyclic rate of fire: 600 rpm
- Effective rate of fire: 30 – 90 rpm
- Magazine capacity: 20 rounds
- Sighting range: ~ 600 m
- Effective range: ~ 600 m
FOG HORN 