Steyr STM556 - An alternative?

For all those who follow us on Facebook, I'm sure you have already read that the Austrian firearms manufacturer Steyr-Mannlicher is bringing a new assault rifle to the market, which is visually similar to the AR-15 and therefore no longer a bullpup. This naturally raises the question of whether this is a signal that it is time to start replacing the good old AUG? We at SPARTANAT have taken this thought a little further and want to introduce you to a few relatively new potential alternatives:

The first thing that naturally comes to mind is the German HK416. The operation is oriented like the STM556 on the AR-15 and the firearm is already in use by many armies, especially by special forces. Due to the success of the system, we see the HK416 as the first competitor.

Just behind in second place is the SCAR-L from the Belgian manufacturer FN. This too has proven itself in combat operations with special forces. However, there is sure to be a good reason why the US Tier 1 units prefer the HK416, so the SCAR-L is only our second competitor.

This futuristic-looking assault rifle is the Beretta ARX160 from Italy. Similar to the STM556, the (cool) barrel can be quickly exchanged. The rear part of the lower rail (covered in the image) is a T-rail, specifically designed for attaching the GLX grenade launcher. We see the ARX160 as the third potential competitor.

The MSBS is a new development from Poland that can be offered in both an AR-15-like and a bullpup version. Seen by many as the future weapon of the Polish Armed Forces, the MSBS strongly resembles the Remington ACR, the production version of the Magpul Massada. Overall, we at SPARTANAT see the Polish assault rifle prototype as the fourth competitor.

The Czech CZ 805 A1 is reminiscent in design of the SCAR, the shoulder stock of the AR-15, and the magazine of the G-36, although NATO standard compatible. However, there were allegedly some issues with the functionality of the firearm in Afghanistan-like weather, so we see the assault rifle of our neighbors as the last competitor until the problem is solved.

For the record, we have selected only one possible competitor per country. Also, we only considered EU countries. The caliber of the firearm had to be 5.56x45mm. In any case, we are eagerly waiting to see what the future holds for the Steyr-Mannlicher STM556.