Force Ordnance to improve ADF sniper capability
7 October 2022
Lightforce Group’s defence arm Force Ordnance has been selected to provide its Nightforce precision rifle scopes to the ADF as part of the Sniper Systems component of Land 159 Lethality Systems Project (LAND 159) Tranche 1. The development paves the way for Force Ordnance’s M663 MIL-SPEC ATACR 7-35x56F1 scope to bring ADF sniper capability up to Five Eyes nation standards.
Force Ordnance’s scope was successful in meeting the requirements of the Long Range Anti-Personnel Sniper Capability (LRAPSC) element of Land 159 and will equip specially trained ADF snipers to deliver precision fire against enemy combatants at ranges up to 1800m in day and night conditions. Typical deployments include support to patrols, operations, surveillance and other specified tasks as well as Anti-Materiel Sniper Capability (AMSC) for the purposes of providing precision fire against enemy materiel (such as vehicles and equipment) at ranges of up to 2500m in day and night conditions.
Force Ordnance Business Development Manager, Paul Mason, served as a sniper in the ADF for 17 years, 12 of which with the Special Air Service Regiment and believes the ATACR 7-35x56mm F1 is a game-changer for ADF snipers. “The obvious benefit is the magnification improvement which takes ADF scope capability from 3-12 to 7-35 power, which in practical terms means that snipers can accurately identify targets at 1200m, which is double the currently capability,” Mason said. “Currently, a sniper would have to use an independent spotting scope to accurately identify targets beyond 600m whereas now that capability is built into the scope.
For Mason, of perhaps equal advantage is the addition of the TREMOR3 reticle to the system, which allows snipers to accurately range targets. Built by Horus Vision Reticle Technologies, a Lightforce Group company, the TREMOR3 reticle is designed to maximise the speed and accuracy of marksmen. Its unique use of patented features gives users the capability to quickly estimate the range to targets while also giving the user wind speed and drop correction information for fast and accurate second shot corrections.
Source: APDR