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Archive for the ‘Optics’ Category

USSOCOM Replaces EOTech Sights With EOTech Sights

Saturday, September 29th, 2018

Naval Surface Warfare Center – Crane Division, acting as the program office for special operations weapons procurement on behalf of United States Special Operations Command has announced a $23,637,320 contract to L-3 Communications EOTech for Close Quarters Battle Sights. We do not yet have verification of which model was selected.

As you may recall, in September, 2015, we broke the story of severe issues with EOTech Holographic Weapon Sights. Ultimately, many (but not all) units within USSOCOM withdrew the sights from service and the US Department of Justice charged L-3 Communications with fraud. L-3 settled for over $25 million. This led to a massive commercial refund program by EOTech, taking back virtually any EOTech sight identified by customers.

SOF units tested and fielded various interim replacements and USSOCOM undertook a formal program to identify a replacement as part of their Miniature Aiming System – Day suite of optics. This contract award is a result of that effort.

Internally, EOTech cleaned house, fixed their production issues, and introduced the VUDU line of telescopic sight. It’s a testament to the dedication of EOTech that they were able to turn themselves in three years and win the business back. I’m impressed.

Tags: EOTech, L-3 Communications
Posted in Contracts, Optics, SOF | 46 Comments »

Tom Cruise Spotted With MAWL/GIGN

Monday, September 24th, 2018

Last July, while on a promotional tour through France for Mission Impossible: Fallout, Tom Cruise paid an unplanned visit to the National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN) in Versailles. These photos from the GIGN’s Twitter account showcase Cruise on the range with GIGN operatives, shooting various weapons from their arsenal, including their primary weapon, the CZ Bren 2 equipped with the B.E. Meyers & Co. Modular Advanced Weapon Laser – Direct Action (MAWL®-DA).

DB2A0164-ACB6-40F2-B772-D4DEF1EDBFC9

The MAWL®-DA is the most end –user centric high powered NIR/VIS aiming and illumination laser available for individual weapons. It was designed from the ground up to provide improved ergonomics, interface, and performance for night fighters across the globe. After rigorous testing, the GIGN selected the MAWL®-DA as the superior choice for formal procurement and deployment within the unit.

Known for missions including counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, surveillance of national threats, protection of government officials, and targeting organized crime, it makes sense that the Mission Impossible star would want to meet with the elite unit that helped inspire the action in Fallout, and try their gear firsthand.

Tags: BE Meyers & Co
Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Optics | 8 Comments »

USSOCOM Awards L3 $48 Million Contract For Squad Aiming Lasers

Sunday, September 23rd, 2018

It’s the end of the fiscal year and Special Operations Command is wrapping up several of their requirements such as the Squad Aiming Laser. The Department of Defense made this announcement, late last week to L3 for the Squad Aiming Laser, who offers the Next-Generation Aiming Laser.

L3 Technologies Inc., Londonberry, New Hampshire, is awarded a $48,500,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the production of Squad Aiming Lasers (SAL), spare parts, and training in support of U.S. Special Operations Command. The SAL is a compact, ruggedized, aiming, pointing and illuminating laser system for compact rifles and assault rifles. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the performance period to ten years. Work will be performed in Londonberry, New Hampshire, and is expected to be completed by September 2023. If options are exercised, work will continue through September 2028. Fiscal 2018 Defense-wide procurement funding in the amount of $8,668,680 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 (N00164-18-D-JQ27).

Below is a USSOCOM quad chart, summarizing the Squad Aiming Laser requirement.

Tags: L3
Posted in Contracts, Optics, SOF | 9 Comments »

SIG SAUER BDX Award-Winning Rangefinder and Riflescope System Now Available in Retails Stores for Hunting Season

Thursday, August 30th, 2018

Newington, N.H. (August 29, 2018) – SIG SAUER Electro-Optics is pleased to announce that the award-winning Ballistic Data Xchange (BDX™) Rangefinder and Riflescope System is now available in retail stores for hunting season. BDX is a rangefinder and riflescope system that uses your ballistics, environmental conditions, and Bluetooth to illuminate the exact holdover dot. The BDX System is simple, fast, and intuitive – just Connect The Dot™.

To use the BDX Rangefinder and Riflescope system, simply download the “SIG BDX” app, pair the KILO BDX Rangefinder and SIERRA3BDX Riflescope, set up your ballistic profile, and you are ready to hunt. Once you are in the field, range your target, put the ballistic holdover dot on the target, pull the trigger, impact.

The BDX family of rangefinders includes: KILO1400BDX, KILO1800BDX, KILO2200BDX, KILO2400BDX, and KILO3000BDX rangefinding binocular. These rangefinders include many of the unrivaled features that the KILO name was built on: Lightwave DSP™ digital rangefinder engine, Hyperscan™ with 4 times per second scan rate, RangeLock™, and the Lumatic™ auto-adjusting display.

The SIERRA3BDX riflescopes are available in 3.5-10x42mm, 4.5-14x44mm, 4.5-14x50mm, and 6.5-20x52mm, and have the look, feel, weight, and size of traditional riflescopes. The riflescopes feature HD glass for superior resolution and optical clarity, 30mm main tubes, side-focus parallax adjustments, and the LevelPlex™ digital anti-cant system. The BDX-R1 Digital Ballistic Reticle is the evolution of holdover, with a second focal plane reticle that scales your ballistic holdover dot with magnification like a first focal plane reticle, providing a ballistic solution out to 800 yards with 1 MOA of accuracy.

Rounding out these superior features is SIG SAUER’s kinetic energy transfer indicator: KinETHIC™. KinETHIC provides hunters assistance in assuring an ethical hunt by indicating when energy on target drops below a threshold that can be set by the hunter using the BDX App.

The SIG SAUER BDX System was recently awarded the 2018 Golden Triggr Award for “Innovation in Optics” at Triggrcon which showcases the newest, most innovative products in the firearms industry.

The complete SIG SAUER Electro-Optics BDX Rangefinder and Riflescope system retails for $699 – $1,399.

sigsauer.com

Tags: SIG Optics
Posted in Advertiser, Optics, Press Release | 1 Comment »

United States Customs & Border Protection Identifies Leupold Mark 5HD Riflescope for Future Use

Wednesday, August 29th, 2018

United States Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has identified and cleared the new-for-2108 Leupold Mark 5HD riflescope for future use by U.S. Border Patrol officers.

The award-winning Mark 5HD from Leupold & Stevens, Inc., launched in early 2018 and combines elite optical performance, rugged reliability, and user-friendly features in a package that could only be produced by leveraging the 70 years of optics manufacturing Leupold possesses. It has wowed end-users throughout the industry.

The U.S. Border Patrol, which has worked with Leupold in the past, has deemed the Mark 5HD worthy of potential use by its officers and agents across the nation.

“We’re dedicated to building optics that deliver game-changing optical performance and unquestioned reliability,” Bruce Pettet, president and chief executive officer for Leupold & Stevens, Inc., said. “The men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol deserve to have the best tools available, and we’re happy to be able to provide them a top-of-the-line optical solution that’s designed, machined, and assembled here in the United States.”

Two Mark 5HD models are currently available: A 5-25×56 model is ideal for those seeking maximum usable magnification and a 3.6-18×44 edition that balances compactness with big-time optical performance. Both feature 35mm maintubes for increased adjustment travel. Elite professional and top level competition shooters were consulted during the designing of the Mark 5HD, and the end result is an optic that provides everything necessary – in both quality and features. Both models deliver superior edge-to-edge clarity and extreme low-light performance. The Twilight Max® HD Light Management System delivers the perfect balance of image color and contrast, light transmission, and glare management.

“The Mark 5HD has been built from the ground up to deliver the unparalleled performance that law enforcement agents require,” said Sam Horstman, Director of Military Sales for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “And, like all of our optics, the Mark 5HD has been strenuously tested for durability, and fully meets the extremely high standards that CBP demands. Border Patrol officers need their optics to perform, and we’re glad to be able to offer a solution that’s built to deliver on those expectations.”

Tags: Leupold
Posted in Contracts, Optics, Press Release | 4 Comments »

THYRM Introduces the CLENS in Dedicated Sheets

Thursday, August 23rd, 2018

Sunnyvale, CA —

In September 2017, THYRM introduced the CLENS, a revolutionary lens cover for weapon lights. First available in a variety pack to fit many models of lights, consumers requested the ability to order only specific sizes. In response, THYRM now sells the CLENS in three sizes in addition to a variety pack. New items include 18 lenses each to fit the following lights.

CLENS-18S
SureFire X300U, XH30, Scout Lights
Inforce WMLx

CLENS-18M
Streamlight TLR, TLR-HL
SureFire G2X, 6PX

CLENS-18L
Streamlight HL, HL-X
SureFire Fury, Intellibeam

CLENS (pronounced “cleanse”) are heat-resistant clear polymer circles that are cut to fit on a wide range of flashlight and weapon-light lenses. CLENS protects the lens from carbon and other debris that can build up from the use of lights during firearms training. CLENS can be removed to quickly clean a light, rather than having to apply Vaseline before shooting, replace a lens or risk abrasion with lens cleaners.

The CLENS is the collaborative effort of Thyrm and Aaron Cowan of Sage Dynamics / Sage Instruments. Designed and manufactured in the USA, these new dedicated sheets are now available at Thyrm.com.

Tags: Thyrm
Posted in Optics, Press Release | 5 Comments »

Trijicon Awarded $7.6 Mil for USSOCOM Miniature Aiming System – Day Optics Program

Thursday, August 16th, 2018

USSOCOM has selected the Trijicon solution for their Miniature Aiming System – Day Optics Program. Under MAS-D, there are four different systems: Handgun Reflex Sight, Close Quarters Sight, Squad Variable Power Scope and Precision Variable Power Scope.

This award is for the Handgun Reflex Sight (HRS), which is designed for rapid day and night pistol target engagements. It incorporates an illuminated dot or shape imposed on a Wide Field of View (WFOV) lens to increase the speed of target acquisition when maneuvering in confined spaces, or in extremis if the primary weapon malfunctions.

With Trijicon winning it is based on their RMR Type 2 and will assuredly be mounted to SOCOM’s Glock 19s.

The RMR’s Aiming Dot features eight adjustable brightness settings including 2 NV and 1 super bright. It’s powered by a CR2032 battery which lasts up to 4 years at a brightness setting of 4 out of 8. Additionally, it automatically adjusts to ambient lighting conditions after 16.5 hours and there is a lockout feature for the buttons. It is also waterproof to 20m.

Trijicon Inc., Wixom, Michigan,* is awarded a $7,626,587 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a five-year ordering period for handgun reflex sights for the miniature aiming system – day optics program. The handgun reflex sight is a low profile, wide field of view, passive sight for rapid day and night pistol target engagements in confined spaces, while prisoner handling, or in extremis after the primary weapon malfunctions. Work will be performed in Wixom, Michigan, and is expected to be completed by August 2023. Fiscal 2018 defense procurement funding in the amount of $1,158,052 will be obligated at the time of award and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with three offers received. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division, Crane, Indiana, is the contracting activity (N0016418DJQ25).

The award was decided on best value. SOCOM plans to field over 14,000 of these optics to its various components.

Tags: Trijicon
Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, Optics, SOF | 22 Comments »

BE Meyers & Co Upgrades MAWL With New Toolless Capability

Thursday, August 16th, 2018

B.E. Meyers & Co. has enhanced the capabilities of the Modular Advanced Weapon Laser (MAWL®) with its latest offering, the EndCap 2 (EC2). In keeping with B.E. Meyers & Co.’s unwavering commitment to the end user, the EC2 introduces two new features for improved performance with the MAWL:

1. A Threaded battery cap that allows for replacement of the MAWL’s battery without tools.
2. Redesigned remote fire ports for easy access when the MAWL is mounted to a platform.

Performing a battery change on the MAWL is simplified with the EC2. Its threaded battery cap can be loosened or tightened by hand, and makes the MAWL easy to maintain in environments where time is critical, and small tools may not be available or practical.

The redesigned geometry of the EC2 moves the remote fire ports to the top of the endcap and spaces them apart to facilitate quick access when the MAWL is mounted to a rifle. This extended spacing also provides additional clearance for any other wiring or accessories mounted to the platform.