The reason why the G3 lasted so long in German service is because they wanted to replace it with the G11 instead of a 5.56 rifle. When the cold war ended and the G11 project was canceled the Germans were kind of stuck with the G3 until all the hurdles involved with reunification were cleared. HK read the tea leaves correctly and began working on a new 5.56 rifle right away (the HK 33 was/is heavy for a 5.56 rifle). Hence, by the time the Bundeswehr was ready to start looking at 5.56 rifles (to conform to NATO standards), HK was ready with the G36.
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