We recently told you that BAE Systems had developed the first mil certified 12 micron thermal sight. I wanted to show what that difference actually means.
To the left is the original 17 micron Universal Thermal Clip-On version XII (UTC XII). To the right is the new 12 micron version. You’re looking at a 30% reduction in objective lens size and a lot less electronics behind it.
The Rapid Targeting and Ranging Module (RAPTAR) – Solver is a joint project between Applied Ballistics and Wilcox Industries. It is an improvement over the original model providing IR Laser, Visible Laser, IR Flood, and Laser Range Finder along with the Applied Ballistics Solver. The system also takes into account Temperature and Humidity, Inclination, Cant, and Heading Reading as well as optional GPS inputs.
This is a big deal for those of you who use Thermal Weapon Sights. The improvement will result in smaller and lighter sights which use less power. While the new technology is initially being integrated into the Universal Thermal Clip-On, I’m told you’ll see it brought over to new versions of the Skeet-IR and the UTM which are widely used.
HUDSON, New Hampshire — BAE Systems today unveiled its first-to-market 12-micron thermal imaging technology that significantly improves the effectiveness of thermal weapon sights. The company’s Universal Thermal Clip-On version XII (UTC XII) is the first military-grade thermal weapon sight to include the new 12-micron technology, which greatly reduces lens size, total system weight, and battery use, while delivering improved image quality.
“This 12-micron-based solution builds on our decades-long history of providing special operations and tactical customers with cutting edge thermal imaging products,” said Marc Casseres, director of Imaging and Aiming at BAE Systems. “Our 12-micron technology, will allow users to detect, recognize, and defeat threats in all weather and visibility conditions, like never before.”
Similar to the 17-micron Universal Thermal Clip-On, which is currently fielded by the U.S. military in support of long-range sniper and surveillance missions, the UTC XII will also complement existing day sight systems. This versatility allows users to rapidly move from day to night vision with no mission interruption.
Providing 12-micron technology furthers BAE Systems’ commitment to delivering the latest technology in unrivalled thermal imaging and aiming products for the most discriminating operators. The UTC XII allows the user to detect, recognize, and identify threats in all weather conditions, day or night, and provides the ability to simultaneously observe the target area through fog, smoke, dust, and haze to provide superior situational awareness. The company plans to integrate 12-micron technology into its full line of thermal imaging and aiming monoculars, weapon sights, and binoculars.
BAE Systems will publicly display the UTC XII, in conjunction with its distribution partners TSSI and Source One, at the upcoming SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I’ve been dying to tell you about the new Dual-Enhanced View Optic and Leupold Carbine Optic from Leupold Optics but I’ve been under a Non Disclosure Agreement until literally two minutes ago. It’s great to see Leupold enter into the Red Dot Optic market.
But they didn’t just enter the RDS market. They’ve launched a new way of offering magnification as well.
When I was first shown the D-EVO I know I had a weird look on my face. They handed me this ‘N’-shaped chunk of aluminum with glass at either end and a Picatinny mount at the bottom. I messed with it a little and listened to their pitch. A lot of thought went into this thing. The size had to be just right. The height had to be just right. The angles had to be just right. The D-EVO is a 6×20 fixed power prism optic which uses mirrors and lenses to get the job done. It could be used stand alone but it’s meant to be used in conjunction with a Red Dot Sight.
Developed over the last year, the Dual-Enhanced View Optic has many features being considered for the Army’s future Squad Common Optic. Leupold chose to integrate the Close Mid-Range Reticle with Wind holds (CMR-W) from the popular MK6 line (7.62 version below for illustration). It offers bullet drop to 600m as well as windage but this version uses averages for 5.56 and 7.62 cartridges. It offers up to 50 mils of windage and elevation adjustment with 0.1 mil increments per click of the dials. The D-EVO is 2″ tall, 4.6″ long, taking up only 3.2″ of rail space due to its mount. It weighs 13.8 oz and is waterproof to 66 feet.
Once in the range, I was convinced. It was like bifocals for my rifle. I could glance up or down and the cowitnessed RDS and D-EVO depicted the same POI whether I was looking through the 1x RDS or the 6x D-EVO. I didn’t have to turn any knobs or flip a magnifier into place. I just moved my eye ever so slightly. Experimenting, I found that if you mess around enough, you can see through both of them at the same time although focus remains on one or the other.
The photo above is looking out at about 200m while the image below is at 100m.
Granted, there is a downside. In order to get everything to fit in such a small package, the 20mm objective lens is on the right side of the weapon. Yes, your brass are going to hit it and we talked about this. In fact, there are some photos below of the bottom of a D-EVO and you can see the checking from the expended cases. They’ve got thousands upon thousands of shots recorded on some of these and it hasn’t rattled anything loose yet. This configuration also means that just like with barrel awareness while shooting from a barricade, you’ve got to remember where your D-EVO lens is. While shooting from the left side of a barricade, I snuggled up tight and obscured my objective lens. No biggy, I was able to engage the target using the LCO but it’s something you have to consider all the same.
As a group we were able to try the D-EVO coupled with both Leupold’s LCO as well as an Aimpoint T-1. It worked just as well with either sight. And what’s more, Leupold’s rep at the range acknowledged that the D-EVO would be used in conjunction with other RDS brands and they didn’t care. They realize that there are millions of sights out there from a variety of manufacturers and they know that the D-EVO is such a game changer that they just want it out there regardless of what it is used with.
These shots offer a great 360 of the D-EVO allowing you to see the adjustments and lenses.
And the bottom, with integral Picatinny mount.
The D-EVO ships in March, 2015.
This is Leupold’s foray into the Carbine Red Dot Sight market. It offers a wide field of view and 2 MOA dot. Adjustments are 1/2 MOA. The LCO has a rheostat control and manual on/off with 16 settings, including NVG. It uses a CR123A battery which offers a 5 year life. Like some of the other new optics coming from Leupold, the LCO is waterproof to 66′ so they are definitely looking at military use.
Here is a 360 degree view of the LCO.
The Leupold Combat Optic begins shipping March, 2015.
Both the D-EVO and LCO are proudly made in the USA! I can’t wait for the chance to see how they both fare long term.
* Photographed at Spartan Tactical.
Exelis will be demonstrating their NextGen Individual Soldier System Night Vision at their booth #10974 at SHOT Show 2015.
The Individual Soldier System integrates voice, video and data into tactical networks allowing commanders to view what soldiers are seeing, send instructions like texts, alerts or images directly to the goggle’s display in a light and sound secure way. This system integrates the Exelis i-Aware Tactical Night Vision Goggle with the high-data rate SpearNet EVO radio using Jagwire to provide on-demand access to critical geospatial intelligence data, reducing the time from collection to decision.
White Phosphor capability provides night vision users with a black and white image instead of the traditional green image that has become the signature view through most Generation 3 night vision technology. This is done using a P-45 phosphor screen, instead of the traditional P-43, allowing an alternate coloration closer to black and white imagery, which some users prefer. Exelis offers this option in its peak performance Gen 3 tubes.
www.exelisinc.com/pages/default.aspx
ZEV Technologies has been mounting the new Leupold Optics DeltaPoint Pro for some time now using their patented interface. When it’s on, it’s solid.
Leupold’s new DeltaPoint Pro has been in the wild for awhile now having undergone live environment evaluation with a variety of shooters including a brief appearance at last Summer’s ‘Fuerzas Comandos’ in Colombia with the 7th SFG(A) team. I got my first look at the mini red dot sight last Summer as well at Leupold’s factory in Beaverton, Oregon and later was able to spend some time on the range with it at Spartan Tactical near Fort Worth. I have to say that I was rather pleased with sight. When I originally saw the integrated rear sight over the Summer I was pretty leery, concerned that it would be a distraction, but once I was able to actually use it the rear sight was very functional and I was able to transition between DeltaPoint Pro and irons quite easily.
Leupold has listened to customer feedback and specifically addressed the issues with intensity of the dot. Two reticle versions are available; a 2.5-MOA red dot or a 7.5 inscribed red delta and in addition to the auto-brightness sensor which relies on ambient light conditions, you can also set manually the intensity you want via push button. The dot can be adjusted for sighting in at 1 MOA per click. The DeltaPoint Pro features tool-less battery replacement for the CR 2032 3v. Leupold has integrated their Motion Sensor Technology (MST), which puts the sight into a battery-saving standby mode. Conversely, when the MST senses motion, it turns on but there is a manual off mode as well. Leupold has introduced something new to the DeltaPoint Pro (as well as two other really cool new products we’ll show you next week); the sight is waterproof to 66 feet.
As you can see in the gallery below, the DeltaPoint Pro is modular in design and can be run slick or fitted with a rear sight designed to cowitness with the reflex sight. This rear sight is used in conjunction with a suppressor-style front sight. Look for additional rear sight options from other manufacturers. The mount kit comes complete with 11 different mounts. Additionally, risers are available for use with rifles including Picatinny mount.
Shipping Late June with first priority to military customers.
Here is their press release for this new sight:
BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., introduces the DeltaPoint Pro, a ruggedized reflex sight built to withstand the hardest recoil, while still delivering a crisp, immediate aiming point on pistols, rifles and shotguns.
This next generation of the legendary Leupold DeltaPoint features a lightweight aluminum housing, shrouded in a spring steel armor. This light but rugged frame houses a crisp, clear aspheric lens, generating a wide field of view and outstanding image quality.
“The DeltaPoint Pro was built with the warfighter, back country hunter and defensive pistols in mind,” said Tim Lesser, director of product development for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “For these folks, a sight problem can mean more than a bad score on a pistol stage.”
The DeltaPoint Pro maintains Leupold’s Motion Sensor Technology (MST), which puts the sight into a battery-saving standby mode. When the MST detects motion, it instantly reactivates the sight, so it’s ready when you are. A manual mode allows the sight to be shut off when not in use.
An auto-brightness sensor continuously samples the ambient light and adjusts the DeltaPoint Pro to provide optimal reticle intensity. For those with specific brightness preferences, a manual adjustment overrides the auto-brightness sensor.
Waterproof to an industry-leading 66 feet, the DeltaPoint Pro now allows for the battery to be changed from a top access port, removing the need to remove the sight. Two reticle options are available. A 2.5-MOA red dot or a 7.5 inscribed red delta.
In the event of a battery failure, the DeltaPoint Pro has an optional rear iron sight designed to cowitness with the reflex sight. A tall, suppressor-style front sight may be required.
The DeltaPoint Pro can be installed using a cross-slot mount on a Picatinny, Weaver or other rail base. For flat-top AR-pattern rifles, a cross-slot riser mount is also available. As with previous generation DeltaPoints, an all-mount kit includes both cross-slot mounts, as well as adapter plates for most of the popular handguns on the market.
From .22s to .458 SOCOMs, the DeltaPoint Pro can handle the recoil without a loss or shift of zero. Its light weight and small package makes it a great choice for the growing number of people mounting reflex sights on defensive handguns. A light tunnel reduces any unwanted illumination leaks during low-light tactical usage.
Long battery life and Leupold’s industry-best Gold Ring Electronics Warranty make the DeltaPoint Pro a worry-free sighting option. From duty pistols to turkey shotguns to AR rifles, the DeltaPoint Pro is ready for anything.
