The G36C (C – Compact) is a further development of the G36K. It has a short barrel and a shorter (than the G36K), 4-prong open-type flash suppressor. The use of a reduced length 228 mm barrel forced designers to move the gas block closer to the muzzle end and use a shortened gas piston rod. The handguard and stock were also reduced in length and the fixed carry handle (with optical sights) was replaced with a carry handle with an integrated MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail. In place of the dual optical sight found on the regular G36 and G36K, the G36C was equipped with rail-mounted iron sights that consist of a hooded front post and a flip rear aperture. The short handguard has six attachment points, one of which could be used for a vertical foregrip.