Late last year, Naval Special Warfare Center – Crane, working as the weapons procurement arm of the United States Special Operations Command, released a solicitation to industry for Squad-Variable Power Scopes to be used on M4 carbines to to 600m.
The plan was to buy First Focal Plane Scopes and other associated items as a 100% set-aside for small business, while a Second Focal Plane Scope and other associated gear would be full and open competition.
Today, they announced the First Focal Plane contract, awarding a little over $15 Million initially to Nightforce. Ultimately, the contract could be worth as much as $21 Million.
The Optic is the ATACR (Advanced Tactical Rifle) 1-8x. It is similar to the commercial variant except that it will be in FDE and utilize a custom BDC reticle specified by USSOCOM.
This is the DoD announcement:
Lightforce (sic) USA Inc.,* Orofina, Idaho, is awarded a $15,760,499 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production of Squad-Variable Powered Scopes (S-VPS) in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. This procurement is for the S-VPS, spare parts and training. The S-VPS is a low-profile, wide-field-of-view, passive scope for near-range engagements out to and beyond the maximum effective range of the weapon system, for small arms employed by special operations forces. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of the contract to $21,172,435. Work will be performed in Orofino, Idaho, and is expected to be completed by September 2023. Fiscal 2018 procurement (Defense-wide) funding in the amount of $1,512,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with five offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N00164-19-D-JQ31).
Tags: Nightforce
Congrats to NF! This is a fantastic optic and I’m glad to see it end up as a choice for those within SOCOM. Now I’ll just go strap in and get some popcorn ready for the comments in the SFP announcement thread.
That’s awesome! Some really good equipment is coming to the dudes who need it.
SIG bribe check must have been late
I don’t think any amount of money would reclassify SIG as a small business.
After this contract, Nightforce may no longer qualify as a small business!
Yes!
Better be Vortex… If Sig gets it I’m going to feel weird knowing my URG-I is running better SFP gear than issue. Vortex is cheap Uncle Sam, you’re already balls deep into SIG – spread the love.
Oh boy! I have to hurry up and get some butter and salt, or I’ll miss the previews!
Better be Vortex for what?
That is an awesome scope, good choice IMHO.
First Focal Plane, why? SFP is better for the uses of this style of optic.
Mother of God.
SFP has a more forgiving eye box. Any one of the manufacturers of these low power variable submissions will tell you that. That forgiving eye box is very important when comparing these optics to something like an eotech/magnifier combination. However FFP has it’s place as well for use in roles such as sniper support weapons, SPR/DMR and of course precision weapon systems. USSOCOM going with both options, in this case 1-6 SFP and 1-8 FFP was a pretty cool and seemingly well thought out decision.
My Mk6 1-6 Leupold has an excellent eyebox. The scope pretty much diappears at 1x. It’s major flaw is the doping of the reticle. And the odd environmental conditions chosen for the BDC. I would like to see more dual plane designs actually.
Having it be an SFP makes the entire point of having BDC useless.
as for the I box, that is more dependent on the manufacturer and how they put the optic together that it has anything to do with it being a 1st or 2nd focal plane
Reticle position has no baring on eye box.
What are you talking about, an SFP makes having any type of a BDC reticle completely useless..
There’s no difference in I boxes between the two either, that’s 100% dependent on how the Optics are put together.
Ok
I want to see that reticle! Anybody have intel on it?
Anyone know why did they chose a BDC reticle?
Used a 1-8 ffp in the stan, 2012. Theres a reason I didnt go 2fp. Actually two reasons
It is antiquated for killing several people quickly at range. Secondly, when the mission changes from humping through farm lands and hills to clearing structures I could go from 8x down to 1x and my holding math (dialing is for suckers and dinosaurs) wouldn’t change no matter what mag I was running on the glass. When milliseconds count, thinking doesn’t need to get in the way.
Second focal plane is to modern combat as the biplane was to world war 2
Were you using the leupold CQBSS? I had one on an M110K, couldn’t see much of the reticle on anything below 4 power. I agree definitely that FFP has the benefit of not having to do math for holds on different power, but at the moment the eye box and speed of SFP LPV optics in CQB has an advantage.
I was using the Horus Vision Blackbird 2. I see what you’re saying, it has merit.
I don’t think most people would take that into account in a CQB situation as there are many things going on at once in the brain, lots of processing of differing information. I found a flick of the wrist and turning that magnification down to 1.5x as a reference point to aim was about as much as I cared to do in buildings or villages concerning my particular optic.
I really liked knowing that if I did exit a building, or into an open area I had the ability to get on the scope and fire effectively if I had neglected to increase the magnification (that is, if I could see the ret) along the way. Versus the SFP, pulling up and squeezing off in a pinch might be a pure miss at 400 or 500 with reduced mag or half mag.
Different strokes and such
I would like to see a link to all the tests performed and the results for all of the optic submitted.
FOIA is your best bet.
Does everyone in SOCOM need to learn MRAD? I’ll accept the argument of those that say no. For the 400 to 600m range where this optic will shine, guys will be using M855, M855a1, mk262, M80, M80a1, M118LR, and other rounds I am not thinking of. At that range a BDC is going to treat all those very differently. I can see team guys sending it in to Nightforce to get the reticles changed.
BDC has to be caliber specific!
Any hint that this BDC reticle will ever hit the commercial sales side including the FDE variant?
Yes, it will but expect limited numbers.
I certainly appreciate all views on this topic, but there is so much more to it than mere assumption and perception. I ask that one try to fully understand the requirement and acquisition strategy prior to making comments. Being a professional 3 gunner and LE officer for 10+ years prior to this RFP, I can say with authority and conviction that your perception is skewed if you do not fully understsnd the requirement, it’s underlying reason, or the operational emvironment. USSOCOM had well thought out yhe RFP……for WHAT THEY WANTED……..not what you thought they needed.
All in all…..a selection that will make our battlefield killers more effective!
not bad for weight.
would like to see and lightweight 1-4 around 8 to 10 oz for 400-600 m with a very handy reticle.
for more power (and inherent weight), dual focal plane please, i.e. 2 moa dot in SFP, reticle in FFP (e.g. primary arms type, hud, acss, or similar).
Nightforce may need all that money if Leupold is successful in court! IP infringement mega trial.