© Didier Weber / RTL
The Luxembourg Army is set to upgrade its weaponry with the introduction of the HK417 battle rifle following an extensive five-year selection process.
The Luxembourg Army has used the same type of weapon since 1995. Now, they will receive a new, more modern, model. Testing has been completed and the new arms are set to be delivered to the Grand Duchy during the latter half of 2024.
It took around five years to establish which type of weapon would replace the army's existing supplies. The HK417 battle rifle – by German manufacturers Heckler&Koch – was ultimately selected to replace the old Austrian Steyr77s. Among other things, the new model allows for numerous additions to be mounted on it, such as optics, lasers, torches, or grenade launchers.
Colonel Pascal Ballinger explained the main criteria for choosing the new weapons: "One of the main conditions was that it needed to be a weapon already in use by another NATO army, preferably one belonging to our neighbouring countries. In Luxembourg, we cannot allow ourselves to purchase and test prototypes."
The new weapon model is used by both the French and German armies. Ballinger cited the example of the Dingo as a warning against purchasing models which are not used by other armies, and later have components discontinued by the manufacturers.
1,350 new models have now been ordered, to the tune of €10 million.
Adjutant Hans Vermaat said the new weapon should last for a long time: "Heckler&Koch guarantees a run of up to 15,000 shots until it has to be changed – that is a lot. The armourer, or gunsmith, will have information on the number of shots available before it needs to be replaced. The manufacturers themselves say they have some rifles which can manage more than 100,000 shots."
Training will be adapted at a technical level to integrate the new rifles due to the high number of additional gadgets. However, in terms of education, the army says nothing will change.
