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Friday, October 9, 2020
Actually, the new Bundeswehr assault rifle was supposed to be produced by Thuringian arms manufacturer CG Haenel. But now the Defense Ministry is backing down. A success for competitor Heckler & Koch.
The Federal Ministry of Defense has withdrawn the planned award of the main order for the new Bundeswehr assault rifle to the Thuringian manufacturer CG Haenel. The ministry justified the move with possible patent infringement by the company at the expense of competitor Heckler and Koch. He had filed a complaint against the CG Haenel contract. The federal government agency will now “reevaluate the offers, taking into account all aspects,” the ministry said.
Haenel’s model “MK 556” prevailed in September in a tender process against the offer from long-term housing provider Heckler & Koch. From military circles it was said that the Haenel weapon was a little better suited to the requirements, but much cheaper, that is, cheaper.
However, public questions have been raised as to whether Haenel, the company is part of a United Arab Emirates (UAE) arms company, and how it can manufacture 120,000 weapons. Until now, the Suhl-based company had focused more on small arms construction.
Heckler and Koch had filed a complaint against CG Haenel’s contract. On this basis, the federal registry (BAAINBw) “became aware for the first time of a possible infringement of patent law by the company CG Haenel GmbH in a verifiable manner,” the ministry said. Internal examinations had shown that such an infringement could not be ruled out. “Therefore, the” award of the contract to CG Haenel company “was canceled.
