The HK G36 rifle was developed in the 1990s as an inexpensive and lightweight successor to the HK G3 rifles. It used the intermediate 5.56x45 mm cartridge during challenging times for the Bundeswehr.

H&K was found to have breached German arms export rules by shipping nearly 5,000 G36 assault rifles and smaller firearms to strife-torn regions. Mexico is plagued by warfare involving drug gangs ...