Navy chooses L3Harris to provide PAL rifle sight aiming lasers for special operations handheld weapons
CRANE, Ind. – U.S. Navy special operations experts needed a laser-aided aiming system to improve fire control on Special Operations Forces (SOF) rifles. They found their solution from the L3Harris Technologies Integrated Land Systems division in Londonderry, N.H.
Officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Ind., announced a $37.5 million five-year contract to L3Harris on Wednesday for the Precision Aiming Lasers (PAL) program.
The PAL combines a range finder with a ballistics and environmental sensor/processor to provide the operator with a ballistic solution for increased likelihood of first-round hit.
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This rifle sight procurement is in support of U.S. Special Operations Command, Visual Augmentation Systems Weapons Accessories Program. This is a first-time buy for PAL, Navy officials say. The PAL is part of the Miniature Aiming Systems - Laser (MAS-L) project.
L3Harris Integrated Land Systems builds the Small Tactical Optical Rifle-Mounted Micro Laser Rangefinder (STORM), which is a weapon-mounted, battery-operated laser rangefinder with integrated infrared illumination and aiming lasers, and a digital magnetic compass.
STORM can display target location as geospatial coordinates. When mounted to a rifle, its visible aiming laser aligns the system with existing optics, and the infrared illuminator and infrared aim laser help the shooter acquire the target and aim in low-ambient light conditions.
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L3Harris also provides the Small Tactical Optical Rifle-Mounted Micro Laser Rangefinder – SLX (STORM-SLX), a smaller and more lightweight version of the STORM precision targeting system.
With its integrated laser and range finding capabilities, operators use the STORM-SLX system for precision aiming, target acquisition, and target/area illumination.
On this contract L3Harris will do the work in Londonderry, N.H., and should be finished by November 2024. For more information contact L3Harris Integrated Land Systems online at www.l3t.com/integratedlandsystems, or the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane at www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NSWC-Crane.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
