German elite units in Ukraine receive advanced Heckler & Koch rifles

In Ukraine, soldiers armed with G36KA4 and HK433 rifles have been spotted. As noted by Matthew Moss from The Armourer's Bench, the new arrivals primarily went to elite units: the special Kraken unit and the 12th Azov Assault Brigade.

Such units have a lot of freedom in choosing equipment and typically select what suits them best. Previously, the most popular rifles seen were Czech CZ 806 BREN 2, American SIG Sauer MCX, or Polish Grots. Now, a batch of weapons from the renowned German manufacturer Heckler & Koch has joined this group.

Germany has already delivered a batch of controversial Haenel MK556 / CR223 rifles to Ukraine, and now it appears that a shipment from Heckler & Koch has arrived. During the Cold War, the German conglomerate was known for its HK G3 rifles, which served as the basis for one of the world’s most famous submachine guns, the HK MP5, and the HK PSG1 sniper rifle, which for decades was considered a benchmark for semi-automatic precision weapons.

After the Cold War ended, the conglomerate designed the HK416 and G36 rifles, which were highly sought after by special units and beyond. Now, it is attempting to promote its latest 2017 modular design, the HK433, which aims to combine the best features of both aforementioned rifles.

The HK G36 rifle was developed in the 1990s as an inexpensive and lightweight successor to the HK G3 rifles, using the intermediate 5.56×45 mm cartridge during challenging times for the Bundeswehr. Besides the unification of the RFN and GDR armed forces, in the era of peace following the fall of the USSR, Germany began years of budget cuts at the expense of the armed forces.

Ultimately, the HK G36 was introduced into service in 1997 after winning against the Austrian Steyr AUG. The HK G36 operates on the principle of utilising gunpowder gases drawn through a side port in the barrel, which then enters the gas system with a short-stroke piston and a push rod. The latter strikes the bolt carrier, whose rearward movement causes the bolt to unlock by rotation.

This is currently the dominant operating system for firearms due to, among other things, its resistance to contamination, compatibility with different barrel lengths, and limited blowback of powder gases towards the shooter when using sound suppressors.

However, a distinct feature of the HK G36 is its very low weight relative to the barrel used due to the extensive use of composites. Even the receiver is made of composites, which in rival rifles is typically made of aluminium. Additionally, to reduce weight, even the trigger mechanism is made of composite, except for embedded steel plates at contact points.

All this, combined with the use of a thin-profile barrel, means that the HK G36 weighs just 3.4 kg in an unloaded state with a 457 mm (18-inch) barrel. On the other hand, the more popular HK G36K variant weighs 3.2 kg with a 318 mm (12.5-inch) barrel. It is worth noting that due to its mostly composite construction, the rifle is used by, for example, the Polish Formoza military unit.

However, the HK G36 has a long history related to its withdrawal from the Bundeswehr due to alleged manufacturing defects, while other numerous users reported no issues. The problem allegedly involved a drastic drop in accuracy after 200 shots in a short period. Of course, the drop occurred as it always does, but it was not as significant, and the manufacturer was cleared of the charges in court. Following a change in requirements, Germany ultimately adopted the better-suited but heavier HK416A8.

The HK433 was developed in response to demand from users wanting the advantages of both designs in one rifle. With the HK416, the problem is the inability to fold the stock, which is possible with the HK433, and the arrangement of controls is similar to that of the G36. Additionally, the rifle has a classic side charging handle, which some users prefer over the T-shaped handle at the rear of the receiver.

Moreover, the HK433 features a monolithic, rather than segmented, Picatinny top rail, providing a more stable mounting point for optical sights. The rifle weighs 3.5 kg with a 368 mm (14.5-inch) barrel, and the barrel can be easily swapped because it is quick-detachable.

The rifle was recently purchased by the German police and the special unit KSK in the HK437 version, which is chambered for 7.62×35 mm /.300 Blackout ammunition. Now, an unknown version has reached Ukraine.

The delivery is most likely funded by the German Ministry of Defence, which, by ordering weapons for Ukraine from its own companies, hopes for war promotion that will result in future foreign contracts. For example, the delivery of the IRIS-T SLM anti-aircraft system to Ukraine and the positive reviews from there could have significantly influenced Slovenia and Bulgaria's selection of this anti-aircraft system.