Login
iscover
The company is among a number of local firms to secure work to support tranche 1 of the Commonwealth government’s lethality systems project.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Lightforce Group subsidiary Force Ordnance has been selected to deliver its Nightforce precision rifle scopes to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as part of the Sniper Systems component of LAND 159 Tranche 1.
The deal is expected to support the development of Force Ordnance’s M663 MILSPEC ATACR 7-35x56F1 scope in line with Five Eyes nation standards.
Force Ordnance’s scope — which reportedly met the requirements of the long-range anti-personnel sniper capability (LRAPSC) component of LAND 159 — is tipped to enable trained snipers to deliver precision fire against enemy combatants at ranges up to 1,800 metres in day and night conditions.
Mission applications include patrols, surveillance, and anti-materiel sniper capability (AMSC) at ranges of up to 2,500 metres in day and night conditions.
Force Ordnance business development manager Paul Mason, who served as a sniper in the ADF for 17 years, described the ATACR 7-35x56mm F1 as 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 1,200 metres, which is double the currently capability,” he said.
“Currently, a sniper would have to use an independent spotting scope to accurately identify targets beyond 600 metres, whereas now, that capability is built into the scope.”
Lightforce Group owner and founder Dr Ray Dennis said Force Ordnance’s selection capped off a critical business development phase for the company.
“We recently announced that our world-renowned automotive and hunting lights are being trialled by the ADF and are in service in other leading military outfits across the world,” Dennis said.
“Our scopes are trusted by the best marksmen in the world, and it is very satisfying that we can now contribute so meaningfully to Australian sovereign defence capability through the provision of this rifle scope system.”
Force Ordnance is among a number of companies selected to support LAND 159 under Brisbane-based munitions company NIOA’s contract.
NIOA announced its official receipt of the LAND 159 Tranche 1 contract at the Land Forces 2022 Exposition.
Deliverables under tranche 1 of the program include:
- new sniper systems;
- surveillance and target acquisition devices;
- pistols;
- shotguns;
- fighting knives;
- personal defence weapons; and
- munitions and an assault breaching system.
[Related: NIOA secures LAND 159 contract]
