Special Operations Command chooses electro-optical rifle scopes from Nightforce for special forces snipers
MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – U.S. special operations experts needed standard and long-range daylight and nighttime rifle scopes for special operations warfighters. They found their solution from Nightforce Optics Inc. in Orofino, Idaho.
Officials of U.S. Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., announced a $17.7 million order last week for Squad-Variable Powered Scopes (S-VPS) and Precision-Variable Power Scopes (P-VPS) rifle scopes.
The S-VPS is the Nightforce ATACR 1-8X24 F1 low-power electro-optical variable rifle scope that includes ED glass, daylight illumination, an intelligent reticle, low-profile adjustments, and a field of view at 1x equivalent to open sights, yet more precise, company officials say.
The rifle sight is slightly longer than 10 inches, and weighs 21 ounces. Its daylight visible center red dot allows for rapid engagements.
The sight provides as much as 8x zoom to help locate, identify, and engage targets at the maximum effective range of most rifles. Its intelligent FC-DM first focal plane reticle provides precise hold and hold-off points.
The rifle sight low-profile turrets are capped to prevent accidental adjustment and offer 0.1 mil-radian adjustment. The sight has an integrated power throw lever to aid in fast magnification adjustments.
The P-VPS consists of the Nightforce MIL-SPEC ATACR 5-25×56 F1 and the MIL-SPEC ATACR 7-35×56 F1, which will be integrated as the standard and the long-range solutions for U.S. Special Operations Command’s Sniper Weapon Systems.
The Nightforce MIL-SPEC ATACR 5-25 and 7-35 are designed to provide improved target detection, acquisition, and hit probability for engagements out to 1500 meters and beyond.
The Nightforce MIL-SPEC ATACR 5-25 and 7-35 enable extended-range target detection and mechanical adjustment. Both optics feature Nightforce’s ED glass, 0.1 Mil-Radian adjustment value for windage and elevation, the Horus Vision TREMOR3 reticle, and a tan, hardcoat anodized finish.
These rifle sights optics also use a Nightforce scope mount and laser range finder to enable special operations snipers quickly to detect, range, and receive firing solutions.
The new optics are to augment several different systems in the Special Operations Command inventory and will coincide with the release and fielding of the Mk22 Sniper System, based on the Multi-role Adaptive Design (MRAD) bolt-action rifle from Barrett Firearms Manufacturing in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
For more information contact Nightforce Optics online at www.nightforceoptics.com, or Special Operations Command at www.socom.mil.
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.
