I'd like to preface this with the statement that I think HK products are top notch and I have had a plethora of experience in employing them in combat and personal use without fail. However, HK's success unfortunately has led to what appears to be a looming sunset in regards to their dominance in the realm of their employment with our nation's elite.
I'm not speaking from the plateau of "I heard it on the internet". I'm simply sighting facts. The sunset commenced when the ban of firearms and components deemed "not having a sporting purpose." coupled with HK's failure to establish a US manufacturing base and further hampered by the German government's restrictive firearm exportation laws.
I can tell you that this created a Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) issue with units employing the 416 at the time of its enactment. True, there were workarounds which usually involved the units picking up the uppers and barrel components in Germany and bringing them back. Recently, this has been addressed by receiving the 416s essentially stripped (Complete upper sans handguards & stripped lowers) and assembling the systems at the units (Geissele rails & Triggers, MIL SPEC Buffers, etc.). As you are all aware, the German Government even views an upper as a complete firearm.
Enter the MCX.
Recently, Sig Sauer was awarded a contract by a DoD entity for the MCX. This left many people pondering what the requirement was for a 300 Blackout / 5.56x45mm "Low Visibility Assault Weapon". Unlike HK, Sig Sauer does not have the issues with the German government due to domestic manufacture and therefore no DMSMS issues. In addition, unlike the 416, the MCX was designed to be run suppressed without manipulation of gas settings and meets the Over The Beach requirements. In addition, the MCX is easily user configured and more compact than the 416.
Now, I would be remiss to say that the "End is Nigh" in regards to the 416s employment by our nation's elite. After all, there is still a plethora of events that need to happen. The MCX is a Commercial off the Shelf (CotS) item and most likely entered the acquisition cycle at Pre Milestone C. which means there still is a the hoops of initial operational testing and evaluation, low rate initial production, operational testing, full rate production etc. to complete before it is fielded. Some digging on fbo.gov will illustrate that there are current contracts in place for the 416 and components (as aforementioned). So, the question is; "Has SOCOM's recent acquisition of the MCX lined up with the expiration of the 416 contracts to position it a replacement?"
This is all "educated speculation", but remember, "So goes Bragg, so goes SOCOM". One would hope that HK would take this time to move production to the US to satisfy the civilian consumer market and reduce fiscal burdens on US and Foreign military and law enforcement sales. However, with upcoming elections and their current fiscal state, this is doubtful. I'm in no way suggesting that HK will go away, their current contracts with foreign militaries will keep them afloat if they restructure. However, if SOCOM goes to the MCX in the future, this may impact US consumer and law enforcement sales of carbines. Not to mention supportability due to the fact of increased cost transferred to the consumer or agencies using the MR556A1 or 416s. So, in the next few years, we may see the M27 IAR being the only 416 type platform in use by the DoD.
Hopefully this doesn't happen, because like the Bren Ten I used to have, I don't believe in owning a platform I can't enjoy because I can't fix it.
I'm not speaking from the plateau of "I heard it on the internet". I'm simply sighting facts. The sunset commenced when the ban of firearms and components deemed "not having a sporting purpose." coupled with HK's failure to establish a US manufacturing base and further hampered by the German government's restrictive firearm exportation laws.
I can tell you that this created a Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) issue with units employing the 416 at the time of its enactment. True, there were workarounds which usually involved the units picking up the uppers and barrel components in Germany and bringing them back. Recently, this has been addressed by receiving the 416s essentially stripped (Complete upper sans handguards & stripped lowers) and assembling the systems at the units (Geissele rails & Triggers, MIL SPEC Buffers, etc.). As you are all aware, the German Government even views an upper as a complete firearm.
Enter the MCX.
Recently, Sig Sauer was awarded a contract by a DoD entity for the MCX. This left many people pondering what the requirement was for a 300 Blackout / 5.56x45mm "Low Visibility Assault Weapon". Unlike HK, Sig Sauer does not have the issues with the German government due to domestic manufacture and therefore no DMSMS issues. In addition, unlike the 416, the MCX was designed to be run suppressed without manipulation of gas settings and meets the Over The Beach requirements. In addition, the MCX is easily user configured and more compact than the 416.
Now, I would be remiss to say that the "End is Nigh" in regards to the 416s employment by our nation's elite. After all, there is still a plethora of events that need to happen. The MCX is a Commercial off the Shelf (CotS) item and most likely entered the acquisition cycle at Pre Milestone C. which means there still is a the hoops of initial operational testing and evaluation, low rate initial production, operational testing, full rate production etc. to complete before it is fielded. Some digging on fbo.gov will illustrate that there are current contracts in place for the 416 and components (as aforementioned). So, the question is; "Has SOCOM's recent acquisition of the MCX lined up with the expiration of the 416 contracts to position it a replacement?"
This is all "educated speculation", but remember, "So goes Bragg, so goes SOCOM". One would hope that HK would take this time to move production to the US to satisfy the civilian consumer market and reduce fiscal burdens on US and Foreign military and law enforcement sales. However, with upcoming elections and their current fiscal state, this is doubtful. I'm in no way suggesting that HK will go away, their current contracts with foreign militaries will keep them afloat if they restructure. However, if SOCOM goes to the MCX in the future, this may impact US consumer and law enforcement sales of carbines. Not to mention supportability due to the fact of increased cost transferred to the consumer or agencies using the MR556A1 or 416s. So, in the next few years, we may see the M27 IAR being the only 416 type platform in use by the DoD.
Hopefully this doesn't happen, because like the Bren Ten I used to have, I don't believe in owning a platform I can't enjoy because I can't fix it.