FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Army awards Next Generation Fire Control System agreement to Sheltered Wings Inc. d/b/a Vortex Optics
PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — The Army has awarded Sheltered Wings Inc. d/b/a Vortex Optics based in Barneveld, WI a 10-year firm fixed price, Follow-on Production Other Transaction Agreement (P-OTA) with a maximum ceiling value of $2.7 billion for production and delivery of up to 250,000 XM157 Next Generation Squad Weapons – Fire Control (NGSW-FC) systems over a ten-year period.
The NGSW-FC system is a ruggedized fire control that increases accuracy and lethality for the Close Combat Force. It integrates a number of advanced technologies including a variable magnification optic, backup etched reticle, laser rangefinder, ballistic calculator, atmospheric sensor suite, compass, Intra-Soldier Wireless, visible and infrared aiming lasers, and a digital display overlay.
The agreement minimum is $20 million and provides the U.S. Government the ability to procure fire control systems, supporting accessories, spare parts, repairs, and engineering services, to include requirements for other Department of Defense Services and potential Foreign Military Sales.
The NGSW-FC will serve as the fire control for the Next Generation Squad Weapons – Rifle and Next Generation Squad Weapons – Automatic Rifle. The NGSW-FC is the planned replacement for the Close Combat Optic, Rifle Combat Optic, and Machine Gun Optic within the Close Combat Force (Infantry, Cavalry Scouts and Combat Engineers).
The U.S. Army Contracting Command, Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, is the contracting activity.
This is interesting news since in all the photos and videos published last year from the soldiers touch points of the NGSW testing, the weapons were fitted with the current issue Sig Tango x1-6. Was this FCS already tested with the NGSW guns?
I’m also wondering if the gun announcement is just around the corner (i.e. weeks), now that Winchester has been awarded contract for the 6.8 ammo and Vortex for the NGSW.
It’s like the M14 of optics.
Joe, explain please.
This thing is going to be so expensive it’s never going to be allowed out of the arms room cage without an 04 memo.
I do hope that this Vortex Optic with all the bells and whistles will soon be available to the unwashed masses. Additionally I think adding Ballistics computers, rangfinders into an optic will only get more common as processing power, power efficiency become cheaper and more widely available.
SIG has their BDX scope that talks to their BDX rangfinder with ballistics computer via bluetooth. No need for Bluetooth if it is all integrated.