Ops-Core has partnered with Princeton Tec to produce the Quad Tactical Head Lamp. The four LED lamp light is waterproof and features interchangeable lens covers to provide white, blue, red, and green light. The light component is produced by Princeton Tec and mounted to an Ops-Core bracket that fits their VAS Shroud. The bracket is also MOLLE compatible and the light can function as a regular headlamp as well.
Currently Insight Technology provides the SU-233 / PVS gun light which is more commonly known as the Visible Bright Light (VBL) III component of the Miniature Day / Night Sight in the Special Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) kit. Any new light will be judged against it and will have to show improved, cost, schedule, and performance. Please take note of the order of those words. The first two are what will get an acquisition professional in trouble, the last one is generally just icing on the cake.
Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane which is responsible for SOCOM weapon programs, recently released a solicitation for a new VBL III. Once selected, the awardee will be responsible for providing Crane with between 10 and 37,500 lights over the next five years in batches of less than 1000.
The list of requirements is extensive and very well written. It includes compatibility with Mil Std 1913 rails but I found it interesting that they were open to other attachment systems if the government could obtain rights to use the system on all of their accessories. Other requirements include waterproofing to 66 ft, and six operating modes which include full and reduced visible white light, infra-red, strobe, non-accidental discharge, and reduced glare modes.
One big issue is that the new light has to exhibit recoil shock endurance sufficient to allow use on all SOF small arms. Word on the street is that the current block II SOPMOD accessories have been having a rough time with the SCAR.
It also has to be compatible with a laundry list of weapons including naturally, the M4 and Mk16/Mk17 (SCAR-L/H) but also the AK 47 and AK 74, M14, and so on, as well as a few that had me scratching my head such as the M3 MAAWS (Carl Gustav) and M2 Heavy Machine Gun. You really need to look the solicitation up and read it. Some of these just don’t make sense for a small light like this. Pistols however, were not listed.
While Insight Technology has long been a favorite of the folks at Crane but Surefire seems to have built one heck of a competitor with their RAID M720 which seems to fit the bill quite nicely.
Full specifications as well as details of the solicitation are available here.
The first thing I noticed when I turned it on was that my son standing across from me was blinded. Then I switched to the strobe function and he was mesmerized wanting to in turn blind his siblings. Ahh, youth. The on/off button is large and easy to find. It’s powered by a single CR123 providing up to 40 hours of light at depending on the setting (4 hours at the max 70 lumens) which is produced by either a single high intensity LED or a combination of three lower powered LEDs. LEDs are available in white, green, or red.
In late 2009, the rail mounted Insight AN/PEQ-16A Mini Integrated Pointer Illuminator Module (MIPIM) began replacing its predecessor, the Insight AN/PEQ-15 Advanced Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Light (APTIAL), mounted on US small arms overseas. Built on a different chassis than the 15 that is a little larger and squarer in shape, its salient feature is the introduction of an integral 100 Lumen white light to augment the visible and infrared laser designator and illuminator. While most troops currently carry a separate rail mounted flashlight to provide illumination when searching caves or houses, the integration of the flashlight into this design combines several one of the most highly used tools in the War On Terror into a single package.
-Mike Perry
We have written about both S&S Precision as well as V-Lite. Both are excellent companies that offer niche products built to exacting standards, that are not found anywhere else. They have recently merged under the S&S Precision brand but will maintain their distinct web presence for the time being. For the those of you unfamiliar with S&S Precision check out their catalog below. By no means is this the entirety of their offerings. For example, we recently wrote about their Grenade Launcher Holster. Another item to watch is the WeaponLinkâ„¢; truly revolutionary in design. Look for further information here in the near future of this and other products.
For those interested in purchasing S&S Precision products contact Grey Group Training.
V-lite has added the revolutionary Manta Strobe to their website and it will be available beginning in April.
Princeton Tec introduces their new Modular Personal Lighting System (MPLS). Based on the popular, LED-based Pilot the MPLS is not only compact, but lightweight as well. The secret is in the flexible boom allows you to position the light in your workspace so you can see clearly without having to crane your neck or look out of the side of your eye. In addition the boom the mounts are designed to allow 45 degrees of rotation to further fine tune your light’s orientation. I have used the light while attached to a helmet rail and it is fantastic. In addition to a MOLLE attachment, the light also comes with a magnetic bracket in addition to an adapter that fits OPS-CORE rails. The MPLS can quickly be moved from mount to mount by twisting the light free. The fit on my MPLS was good and I didn’t see any problem with it coming free accidentally. A simple push of the large button in the center of the light transitions it from off to low to high.
The MPLS is available in Black, OD, and Sand bodies with Red, Green, Blue, White, or IR LEDs. Units should begin shipping in about two weeks. Visit www.princetontec.com to order.
Energizer has taken their technologies developed for military use and adapted them for the Law Enforcement market. The most obvious change is the color choice of Black rather than Coyote to accommodate SWAT in particular. But that’s not the only change. They’ve also added a handle held single cell light to the line. Although we’ve covered these lights before, we have so many new readers that we thought it would be a good idea to reacquaint you with them.
The head rotates a full 180° head allowing light to be directed where needed and offers six light modes:
-Bright white, high-intensity LED (70 lumens on high)
-Red LED for light-discipline and combat conditions
-Blue LED for light-discipline and medical applications
-Green LED for light-discipline and map-reading
-Infrared (IR) light for use with night-vision devices
-IR strobe for Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) capability
The Energizer Smart Switch Technology controls intensity of all visible light sources, providing a “quick-extinguish†feature. Both IR and Lockout modes prevent other light sources from operating. The light runs on two AA batteries, but is fully functional with one AA battery when necessary. Additionally, Energizer offers an ingenious feature that the batteries are always inserted tips-in, eliminating the need for polarity indicators. This is fantastic in the dark.
The helmet light weighs in at 3.5 ounces and features four light modes: High-intensity White LED (45 lumens), Red LED for low-light conditions, Infrared (IR) light for use with night-vision devices, and IR strobe flashes for Identify Friend or Foe (IFF) capability. Once again, the Smart Switch Technology controls intensity of all visible light sources and provides “quick-extinguish†feature. Additionally, the IR and Lockout modes prevent other light sources from operating. The helmet light is rotatable in 18-degree increments and locked into place and mounts to either side of helmet with standard screwdriver. It detaches from the helmet mount for use with other accessories such as a MOLLE vest or Picatinny rail.
In addition to the 2 AA handheld and helmet lights, Energizer has also introduced a 1 AA light. It features a constant-on control with the push of a button as well as a dim up/dim down feature. It is waterproof with a machined, aircraft-grade aluminum alloy body, shatterproof lens, and white LED.
Note: The lights are not scaled in relation to one another.
