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Archive for the ‘Optics’ Category

Unity Tactical Expands FAST Line with MRDS Mount and Improved Accessories

Tuesday, July 18th, 2023

New FAST™ MRDS and Updated FAST™ Modular Accessory Suite expand capabilities for shooters using micro red dot sights

BROUSSARD, LA. (July 18, 2023) – UNITY™ Tactical, a designer of components that integrate tactical systems and optimize the human factor, announced today the launch of its FAST™ MRDS mount, as well as additions to its FAST Modular Accessory Suite. These products all optimize the shooting experience and afford more configuration options when using micro red dot sights.

The FAST™ MRDS mount, in conjunction with any of the Optic Adapter Plates in the FAST™ Modular Accessory Suite, brings compatible micro red dot sights to the established FAST™ height of 2.26″ to the optical centerline.

The FAST™ Modular Accessory Suite, which has previously included four Optic Adapter Plates and an Offset Optic Base that mounts secondary optics at 36 degrees, now also boasts two additional Optic Adapter Plates for micro red dot sights with Holosun™ 509T, Holosun™ K and Shield™ RMSc footprints.

Updates to the FAST™ Modular Accessory Suite now also allow mounting in conjunction with an EOTech® when mounted on a FAST™ Optic Riser, which previous models did not.

An MRDS Top Ring for the FAST LPVO also joins the accessory suite, attaching any number of micro red dot sights directly to the top of the LPVO scope mount. When used with a FAST Optic Adapter Plate, the micro red dot will sit at the 12 o’clock position.

“We saw a gap for end users who want to mount micro red dots at the 12 o’clock position in combination with other optics, and we always aim to fill gaps when we see them,” said Mike Roth, VP of business development for UNITY Tactical. “The FAST MRDS and the FAST Modular Accessory Suite afford several configuration options, giving end users the flexibility and customization to mount primary and secondary optics in a variety of ways.”

FAST™ MRDS is available in black or FDE. It mounts directly to an M1913 rail and comes standard with a two cross bolt rail clamp, but is compatible for retrofit with a FAST™ QD Lever. It retails for $152.

The MRDS Top Ring for FAST LPVO is available in black or FDE and in 30mm or 34mm, and retails for $56. The FAST Offset Optic Base is available in black or FDE and retails for $69. All six FAST™ Optic Adapter Plates come in black and retail for $36.

Both the FAST MRDS and FAST Modular Accessory Suite offer a lifetime warranty, and are available for purchase now through authorized UNITY dealers and on UNITYtactical.com.

Nightforce Optics Sponsors The Tactical Games Athletes Jared Halbert & Megan Kennedy

Tuesday, July 11th, 2023

Orofino, ID – (July 10, 2023) – Nightforce Optics is excited to partner with two The Tactical Games competitors. The Tactical Games was created to test the skills and readiness of tactical athletes of all backgrounds and Nightforce is proud to be represented by two of the sports’ best athletes.

“Jared Halbert and Megan Kennedy are highly regarded athletes who have chosen to use Nightforce LPVO riflescopes both professionally and in competition environments. We are excited to have them on our team and look forward to continuing our support of The Tactical Games community.”

-Alexander Crown, Brand Manager of Nightforce Optics

As the former owner of The Tactical Games, Jared Halbert is back on the competition circuit to continue his already impressive resume of achievements. Halbert has won the 2020 & 2021 Men’s Elite National Championships along with 11 Elite Regional wins with a total of 14 Elite podium appearances. Halbert is also co-owner of the Texas Shooting Academy, a premier shooting event center within the state of Texas.

Megan Kennedy has served as a law enforcement officer for 10 years and as a SERT (Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team) member. Megan has been participating in The Tactical Games since 2019, and has competed in ten individual and team events. She was the National Champion in the 2021 Women’s Elite Division.

Since 1992, Nightforce Optics has been a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium riflescopes, spotting scopes, and accessories. Nightforce serves the needs of elite military forces, competitive shooters, and hunters around the world by building the most rugged, reliable, and repeatable optics available. Through meticulous attention to detail in design, production, and quality control, every Nightforce is expected to withstand the most punishing conditions imaginable. For additional information on Nightforce technology and products please visit www.NightforceOptics.com.

SOFWERX – Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Pre-Release for Visual Augmentation Systems (VAS) Range Finder

Monday, July 10th, 2023

The USSOCOM Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program will soon be accepting submissions for the technology area of interest below.

Special Area of Interest

PHASE I:
SOCOM234-003: Visual Augmentation Systems (VAS) Range Finder

SOF ground forces require an improved capability for situational awareness allowing reliable and effective day/night observation and range measurement in a small, low-cost, easy to use device in primarily urban or near- urban environments with ambient light sources.

Current observation and range measurement solutions possess the following requirements:

• requires digital integration

• requires low-light or night capability

• Too large

• Cost prohibitive

• Require active emission of laser energy

• Lack user-assistance, limiting the effective range

• Lack feedback mechanisms that allow the user to be sure of their measurement

Potential solutions should hyper enable the SOF operator by interrogating a potential target with its integrated sensors, organizing that gathered information in a useful manor, and reliably disseminating it via Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) interface to the End User Device (EUD).

Potential solutions include integrated sensing solutions capable of aiding the user in detecting human sized targets at the maximum possible distance for both day and night urban environments. Solutions must enable the user to gather range measurements to target types that include, but are not limited to humans, vehicles and buildings. Solutions utilizing a laser transmitter for range measurement must maintain user safety by using a laser with wavelength greater than 1400 nanometers and also by not exceeding the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Class 1 laser hazard classification.

Potential solutions shall be capable of surviving all environments that SOF encounters, including immersion, transportation vibration, high and low temperatures, high humidity, high altitude, drops and shocks, rain, ice, sand and dust, salt fog, and electromagnetic radiation. Participants are encouraged to outline the design trades associated with surviving immersion at 1 meter for 30 minutes.

The innovative research should focus on solutions that can be adapted to meet the size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints listed below.

• Less than 18 oz. (1.125lbs) with power source(s) installed.

• Less than 64 cubic inches in volume, and not exceed 6 inches in either length, width, or height.

• Potential solutions must provide the operator with the following runtime profile before requiring a change of power source.

o Daytime: 30 minutes of observation including 75 range measurements; and

o Nighttime: 30 minutes of observation including 75 range measurements; and

o 20 Rapid Ranging Events: A Rapid Ranging Event can be described as follows. User detects an object of interest while not using the device. User then picks up the device and utilizes its range measurement capability until user is confident, they have an accurate range measurement to the object of interest.

Clarifying Information: The purpose of this effort is not to generate precise target coordinates. For any target coordinates that the integrated sensing solution can generate, it should be able to communicate those digitally into TAK with all associated errors.

Submissions Open 20 July 2023 12:00 PM ET (Noon). On 20 July, SOFWERX will host a virtual Q&A session for the area of interest. RSVP to the Q&A session at events.sofwerx.org/sbir23-4r3.

UF PRO Presents – It’s Beer:30. Debating Thermal Protection

Sunday, June 18th, 2023

Exploring the role of thermal signature in combat zones

In this episode of Beer:30, Armin and Darko are joined by Marko Peljhan, co-founder and partner at C-Astral Aerospace, a globally recognised company that manufactures and services fixed-wing small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. They discuss the challenges of countering detection, the quest for effective camouflage, and the battle against heat signature technology.

ufpro.com/us

Night Vision Devices Now Available from T.REX ARMS

Saturday, June 17th, 2023

T.REX ARMS has begun selling night vision devices! After spending several years using night vision, and producing educational materials about different devices, we are now partnering with Nocturnality to assemble and provide custom-built hardware for immediate fulfillment.

All tubes are thin-film white phosphor tubes from Elbit, which will meet or exceed OMNI VIII Mil-Spec minimums, meaning no less than 1600 FOM. Individual batch specifications will be posted on product pages, and every order will receive the original Elbit Systems spec sheets.

Individual products have been narrowed down to the ubiquitous PVS-14 for monocular use, complete with manual gain, IR illuminator, in an industry standard ITT Mil-Spec housing, and affordable binocular options that utilize the flexible and durable housings from AB Night Vision.  

The Ruggedized Night Vision Goggle is nearly indestructible and has intuitive controls that include IR illumination and signaling capability, 16 hours of battery on a single CR123 with low power indication, and support for ANVIS-style battery packs.  

The Ruggedized Panning Night Vision Goggle shares features with the standard RNVG, but with the added ability to pan the tubes out for a 65 degree field of view. Also, the pods can be detached from the bridge without tools and used as separate monoculars (with an additional battery adapter).  

All products are ready to be used right out of the box, including batteries and basic accessories, and they are backed by a 10-year warranty. 

OpEx 23 – Morningstar Strategic Services

Monday, June 5th, 2023

In addition to security advisory services for government and the financial sector, Morningstar Strategic Services offers a variety of high end equipment solutions in Canada including Torraka cold weather clothing from Sweden as well as Stone Glacier.

They also specialize in precision target engagement and are the Canadian agents for Nightforce as well as being affiliated with Accuracy 1st Canada which offers Accuracy 1st courses on a 360 deg range in Western Canada.

Rampart Range Day 23 – InfiRay Outdoor

Wednesday, May 31st, 2023

InfiRay Outdoor had their range of thermal optics on display including the Thermal Imaging Riflescope Holo HL25 which features a 12 ?m 384×288 sensor.

It is Pic Rail compatible. Above you can see the 2.69”AMOLED display screen which has the capability of Picture in Picture display with the target at 2x magnification.

It also can integrate a laser range finder on the side Pic Rail and 32GB of Built-in Memory to store screen images.

This and other products shown at Rampart Range Day are available for unit and agency orders in Canada and the US through Rampart.

Antimatter Scopeswitch

Monday, May 22nd, 2023

From the creators of the Flux Defense Raider comes a new company and new product.

From Antimatter Industries, the Scopeswitch is new type of optic mount allowing your offhand to control the zoom without taking it off the handguard.