the rail system is clearly export oriented. The hype we have heard them talk of reminds me of FN SCAR but also the HK XM8.
CS/LR17 is obviously intended for export, however the PLA have are adopting 1913 rails as well in other rifles, including modifying existing rifles with 1913 rails. I expect the new service rifle to features 1913 rails as well.
Bltizo, on a Sino-HK416 I think you are chasing the wrong end game. Although the M27 variant has acheaved wider issue. HK416 is not really a universal rifle. It's being issued as one by the French and Norwegians but the vast majority of users field it as a Special Forces weapon.
I mean Germany the home of HK. When they started the recent G36 replacement program didn't just take up HK416. HK started HK443.
Not because HK was worried about reliability or function but as they seemed it to specialized and not economical for the end goal.
416 is like a Mercedes Benz Luxury SUV, top of the line German engineering. But nothing it does can't be matched by a lower price vehicle. The later can even outperform in the right circumstances. In trials of early XM855A1 HK' s BCG suffered vs M4A1. Most of those were due to the high pressure rounds on the short stroke piston.
Trails of late with midlength gas systems have done even better.
What the PLA will need is is a weapon designed to offer modern modular construction with both the advantages that SCAR and HK416 actually lack. Cost and ease production. HK416 And SCAR are very accurate and reliable weapons but there cost points leave something to be desired.
Fun fact: at the end of the Second world war The US and other nations studied the STG40 The rifle that we consider the mother of the Assault rifle. The US decided it was crude and cheap and rejected it on those. Ironically two of its stronger points.
It used stamped parts an kept the real high quality work for the barrel and bolt.
Well, I did say Sino-Hk416 lacking some of the bells and whistles -- i.e.: cheaper, with less complexity in some areas. For one, I think they don't need the weight and complexity of a quad rail handguard. A noon handguard with something like m-lok in the other positions should be more than adequate.
HK433 is actually a good reflection of what I think the new service rifle may look like as well and I thought about mentioning it but it has yet to be adopted by anyone yet.
However I imagine the new PLA service rifle may be even simpler than HK433 in some regards, for example I doubt there will be an ambidextrous charging handle, and I'd be surprised if the stock was as complex as HK433's (I expect it to be able to fold but probably lack things like height adjustment) -- but then again seeing as it is said to be modular I'm sure certain parts like the stock can be easily changed.
