SIG MMG 338 Program Series

Posts Tagged ‘L3’

ADS Offering L3 Night Vision Device Sustainment Upgrade

Friday, November 2nd, 2018

I recently met with ADS Inc to discuss their new Night Vision Device Sustainment Upgrade Program with L3.

When the Army begins to field the new Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular (ENVG-B) to its Close Combat Forces, PVS-14s previously used by those forces will be redistributed within the Army.

That being said, there are hundreds of thousands of AN/PVS-14 night vision monoculars in service across all of the US services, our allies and with law enforcement agencies. Some have been in use for well over a decade. Most feature Green Phosphor tubes and are in need of an upgrade.

That’s what the Night Vision Device Sustainment Upgrade Program is about. ADS Inc teamed with L3 to offer upgraded tubes (un-filmed 2376 FOM White Phosphor). These White Phosphor tubes offer improved target identification and image clarity as well as decreased eye strain. They also work quite well with clip-on thermal enhancements like the Enhanced Clip-On SWIR Imager from Optics 1.

Tube replacement is relatively easy, meaning units can purchase the White Phosphor tubes and do the work themselves.

Alternatively, customers can send in the NVG and L3 will inspect the device and replace the tube. Many of these PVS-14s also need repairs or are missing parts. The program can make that happen as well.

Read about the upgrade program at adsinc.com/past-performance/l3-night-vision-device-sustainment-upgrade.

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Posted in ADS, Optics | 1 Comment »

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.

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Posted in Contracts, Optics, SOF | 9 Comments »

L3 and Optics 1 Awarded Opportunity to Provide Small Tactical Optical Rifle Mounted Micro-Laser Range Finder to US Army

Friday, June 22nd, 2018

The Department of Defense recently announced that L3 Technologies and Optics 1 are the two vendors who will compete for each one the of Small Tactical Optical Rifle Mounted Micro-Laser Range Finders (STORM) for the US Army.

L3 Technologies Inc., Londonderry, New Hampshire (W91CRB-18-D-0007); and Optics 1 Inc., Bedford, New Hampshire (W91CRB-18-D-0008), will compete for each order of the $236,019,734 firm-fixed-price contract for the Small Tactical Optical Rifle Mounted Micro-Laser Range Finder. Bids were solicited via the Internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 20, 2025. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

The program has been around for many years. This 2013 video from PEO Soldier goes over the basic attributes of STORM. Hoever, new systems procured from this contract will offer improved performance.

Seen here is the STORM PI by L3 Insight Technologies.

It offers integrated infrared (IR) illumination and aiming lasers (IR and variable), and a Digital Magnetic Compass (DMC). When operated in conjunction with a GPS, may be used to display target location as geo-spatial coordinates (grid or slant). When weapon-mounted, the visible aim laser enables the STORM to be co-aligned with existing optics, and the IR illuminator and IR aim laser facilitate target acquisition and aiming in low ambient light conditions.

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The Optics 1 offering is said to be a larger version of their Integrated Compact Ultralight Gun-Mounted Rangefinder (I-CUGR), seen above, with improved capabilities.

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Posted in Contracts, Optics, Sensors | 6 Comments »

GPNVG18

Thursday, October 13th, 2011

The Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggle 18 from L3 Warrior Systems‘ Insight Technology division are a modification of the Panoramic goggles originally developed to provide Aviators with a wider field of view. Legacy night vision binocular systems with their 18mm tubes offer a 45 deg FOV while the Panoramic model’s four smaller tubes (16mm) increase that out to 95 deg.

Above you can see the GPNVG18 in Blue Force Gear’s AUSA booth. It is mounted on a Crye Precision AirFrame Helmet with an Adams Industries ANVIS mount.


Click on these photos to enlarge them.

If you’re wondering, yes the GPNVG18 uses a separate battery pack. Remember, it was originally designed for Aviation use so it’s much like ANVIS technology.

Here is the complete kit all snuggled in a nice, padded storage case with removable hard case for the goggle.

There aren’t a lot of these systems out there yet, but they are there. Hopefully, we’ll see more. However, the Aviation folks are already looking at new helmet technology that eliminates night vision goggles altogether but rather puts a panoramic screen in front of the eyes of the Aviator and projects data normally found on a Heads Up Display as well as images taken from night vision cameras on the side of the helmet as well as other locations.

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Posted in Sensors | 7 Comments »

L-3 to Acquire Insight Technology

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

L-3 Communications announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Insight Technology Incorporated (Insight). Insight develops and manufactures night vision and laser aiming and illumination devices. Headquartered in Londonderry, New Hampshire, Insight employs approximately 1,100 people. The purchase price was not disclosed and will be funded with cash on hand. However, according to Business Wire, “Insight is expected to generate approximately $290 million of sales for the twelve months ending December 31, 2010. Before giving effect to the present value of tax related benefits of the transaction and expected synergies, the purchase price represents a multiple of approximately nine times estimated 2010 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA).”

It is anticipated that Ken Solinsky, Insight’s founder and president, will become president of L-3’s newly created Warrior Systems Sector. He will report to James W. Dunn, senior vice president and president of L-3’s Sensors and Simulation Group. The Warrior Systems Sector will include Insight as well as L-3’s existing electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) businesses currently addressing the warrior systems market and will be reported in L-3’s Electronic Systems segment. As you may remember, in 2007 L-3 purchased Eotech, producers of holograraphic gunsights. Based on this information it is a safe bet that the Eotech line will be moved into the Warrior Systems Sector. It will be interesting to see how this affects Insight’s line of Red Dot Sights.

www.L-3com.com
www.insightlights.com

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