Marines pick Envision to provide electro-optical aiming laser and infrared illuminator for infantry weapons
QUANTICO, Va. – U.S. Marine Corps needed an aiming laser for a variety of infantry rifles and machine guns. They found a solution from Envision Technology LLC in Roanoke, Va.
Officials of the Marine Corps Systems Command at Quantico Marine Base, Va., announced a $249 million contract last week for the Squad Aiming Laser system, which consists of a visible alignment laser and infrared aiming laser.
Weapon aiming system
The contract also calls for Envision to provide spare parts, logistics support, and test article refurbishment. The Squad Aiming Laser system also consists of a visible laser pointer, near-infrared laser pointer, near-infrared laser illuminator, rail weapon mount, batteries, and remote-control unit.
The Squad Aiming Laser is for infantry weapons such as the Marine Corps M27 infantry automatic rifle; M4A1 infantry assault rifle; M240B medium machine gun; M110 sniper rifle; and XM7 Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW).
The Squad Aiming Laser's visible alignment laser is a narrow beam laser primarily used to align the system to the host weapon. The visible alignment laser can be viewed with the naked eye. The visible alignment laser is visible to the operator when projected on targets at a range of 82 feet.
The visible alignment laser is visible to the operator when projected on targets as far away as 328 feet. It has switch-selectable output power for different levels of operation.
Narrow-beam laser
The infrared aiming laser is a narrow-beam laser for aiming and pointing in weapon-mounted and hand-held applications. The infrared aiming laser can be viewed with night-vision devices on targets from as far away as 1,968 feet.
The output power of the Squad Aiming Laser infrared aiming laser also is switch selectable for several levels of operation. Its low-power and setting has half a milliwatt of output power; its tactical setting has seven milliwatts of output power; and its high-power setting has from 25 to 100 milliwatts of output power. Its peak wavelength is 850 nanometers.
The infrared illuminator laser of the Squad Aiming Laser is for infrared illumination of targets, and can be viewed on targets with night-vision devices from as far away as 1,968 feet. The system also can provide close-quarters infrared illumination.
The Squad Aiming Laser has controls for momentary and continuous activation, so as not to disturb the shooter's natural firing position. The system weighs less than 10.5 ounces, is located 1.37 inches above is mounting rail, and is smaller than 28 cubic inches.
Battery life
Powering the Squad Aiming Laser are CR-123A or L-91 batteries, which last for at least four to eight hours, with battery changes without removal from the weapon and without tools. The aiming laser can be used with combat gloves.
The Squad Aiming Laser can function at altitudes of 30,000 feet above sea level, survive helicopter vibration, and operate in temperatures from -20 to 50 degrees Celsius. It can survive contact with common chemicals, sea water, dust, and salt water immersion.
Envision prevailed in this competition over two other bidders. The company will do the work on this contract in Manchester, N.H., and should be finished by February 2030. For more information contact Envision Technology online at https://envision-tek.com, or Marine Corps Systems Command at https://www.marcorsyscom.marines.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.
