Ukraine’s SOF Receive New Heckler & Koch G95 Rifles

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) have received German G95 assault rifles, which are also being introduced into service with the Bundeswehr.

A SOF soldier shared with Militarnyi his impressions of using the new weapon.

According to him, the G95 has a smooth trigger pull, manageable recoil, and is low-maintenance in the field.

“Smooth trigger pull, recoil, low-maintenance. Overall, a good-quality weapon. Better than the M4A1,” the serviceman said.

The G95 belongs to Heckler & Koch’s HK416 family and uses 5.56×45 mm ammunition. The Bundeswehr selected rifles from this family as part of its transition from the standard-issue G36 to a new small-arms platform.

It is currently unknown how many G95s Ukraine’s SOF have received or as part of which transfer they were delivered.

The delivery of G95 rifles to SOF is also notable because the platform is based on the HK416, a rifle family widely used by special operations units in various countries.

G95

The G95 is the Bundeswehr’s new standard-issue 5.56×45 mm assault rifle, developed by Heckler & Koch based on the HK416 platform. It is intended to gradually replace the G36 in German troops. The first production rifles of the new standard began reaching Bundeswehr combat units in December 2025.

The Bundeswehr is set to receive two main versions: the G95A1, with a 419 mm barrel, and the more compact G95KA1, with a 355 mm barrel. The shorter version is intended to become the standard rifle for most service members. Without additional equipment, they weigh approximately 3.4 kg and 3.3 kg, respectively.

The rifle uses a short-stroke gas piston system with a rotating bolt. It has a rate of fire of about 850 rounds per minute and a stated effective range of up to 450 meters. The controls are ambidextrous, designed for use with either hand.

Separate from the G95A1 and G95KA1, the G95K is a shorter version of the HK416 that German special operations forces have used since 2019.

Militarnyi previously reported on Ukrainian troops’ experience with the German G36 and G3 rifles. Service members spoke positively about the compact G36K and G36C variants, while noting that the 7.62 mm G3 is significantly heavier than Kalashnikov rifles.