Germany approves further Sturmgewehr G95, headset, Wolf vehicle, and trailer procurements

The German Army's Panzergrenadierbataillon 122 is the first unit to be equipped with the G95 assault rifle. (Bundeswehr/Mario Bähr)

The budget committee of the Bundestag, Germany's parliament, approved the procurement of more Sturmgewehr G95 assault rifles, intercom sets, and Wolf all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), the Federal Ministry of Defence (BMVg) announced on its website on 3 December.

The BMVg said the Heckler & Koch HK416A8 assault rifle is being introduced into service as the G95, replacing the G36 assault rifle equipped with a main combat sight featuring a reflex sight and laser light module. This follows the Bundestag budget committee's approval of the procurement of nearly 120,000 G95s in 2022. Procurement of more G95s is expected to expedite the use of the rifle throughout the Bundeswehr, according to the BMVg. The Bundeswehr announced on its website on 5 December that Panzergrenadierbataillon (Armoured Infantry Battalion) 122 based in Oberviechtach became the first unit to be equipped with the G95 during an exercise in Grafenwöhr before intensive training on the new weapon. The German Army is receiving the G95KA1 short-barrel version of the assault rifle.

Additional intercom sets with integrated hearing protection will be procured under an existing framework contract for delivery in 2026. In addition to providing hearing protection, the intercom sets enable communication during combat with awareness of ambient sounds.

Under an existing contract, additional Wolf vehicles will be procured in the command vehicle and military police vehicle variants in 2026–27. The vehicles will be equipped with the Digitalization of Land-Based Operations (D-LBO) system.

The Bundestag budget committee approved the amendment of an existing framework agreement on 70 tonne semi-trailers so more can be ordered as well as procuring the first trailers. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026.