Ann Arbor, MI – EOTech has unveiled the first ever Integrated Fore-end Light (IFL) for the Tactical Shotgun.

Illuminate the area around you with a tap of your fingertips. The IFL affords the operator an incredible tactical advantage through the use of ambidextrous on/off pressure pads located on the fore-end. Settings include constant on, momentary, strobe and off. In high pressure situations you simply tap the pressure pads for activation, never adjusting your grip to do it. Your hand is always on the fore-end, at the ready, making this new integrated light ideal for Law Enforcement, Tactical Use or Home Defense.

These integrated lights will be available in either 125 or 200 lumen outputs and will run on 1 CR123 Lithium battery for at least 90 minutes. They are waterproof to 1 meter and feature a custom texture so you won’t lose contact in high pressure situations.

Designed to fit the Mossberg 500/590 and the Remington 870, the IFL will be available through EOTech starting in January of 2012. Both models will have an MSRP of $269.00.

EOTech and Insight Technology have leveraged their combined status as industry leaders to create the L-3 Commercial Products Group. Established in 2011, the group will offer the world a single source that delivers cutting edge technology and products in the fields of holographic sighting systems, tactical lasers, illuminators, thermal imaging equipment, night vision and firearms training devices. This group operates in state-of-the-art facilities and is dedicated to providing high-quality battle tested products to law enforcement, tactical and commercial markets around the world. For more information call (888) 368-4656 or visit our websites at www.eotech-inc.com or www.insighttechgear.com.

Contact:
Amy Miller, Media Relations Manager (734) 572-2170 or Amy.D.Miller@L-3com.com

Shooting Spotlight

by Rich Grassi

Las Vegas, NV at the 2011 SHOT Show -

I stopped by L3 Communications/EOTech and spoke with Marketing Communications Manager Amy Miller. A pair of interesting new products, actually package deals, are available for those involved in tactical shooting, law enforcement/military operations and hunting.

Their EOTech Holographic Sight has a long record of use in military and law enforcement organizations. There’s currently an EOTech Holographic Weapon Sight purchased under contract with US SOCOM. I was aware the military had a record with their sights and I was also aware that not all users were happy.

There’s been some record of failures with their sight. It’s too bad. When I first used one of their sights, it was already mounted on a Wilson Combat UT-15 carbine. After I figured out how to use it – I didn’t get user documentation with the package – it was very fast and easy to use.

A lot of chatter can be heard these days about how bad these sights are. This makes me question why SOCOM would want them. Apparently a battery connection issue – complete with an easy, two-minute fix – was the major malfunction.

Mike Kroll is the Service Manager at EOTech. this is a company where, if you call during business hours, a human answers. If you have a complaint about your sight, you call Mike. If he needs it in for repair, he’ll ask for your sight, repair it as needed and “QC” it, ensuring it’s right before it goes home. Amy said, “We’re accountable. If there’s a problem, we stand behind the product and fix it.”

The new product combo is the MPO II. Standing for “Multipurpose Optic,” this is the Holographic Weapon Sight (EXPS-3) and a magnification unit (G23). The HWS, like others before it, has no muzzle side signature – meaning you can’t see the lit reticle from the front and no reticle wash out in adverse light conditions. The unit is waterproof, shockproof, fogproof, easily adaptable to tactical weapons platforms and it’s compatible with NVDs (Night Vision Devices). Magnification is fixed 3X.

The MPO III has the AR223 4-dot reticle, giving the user aiming points relative to the 62 grain round from a 14.5″ barrel. It runs on one lithium 123 battery. Battery life is around 600 hours. The sight shuts off automatically after eight hours. It’s supplied on a quick removable base and features repeatability within an MOA when properly remounted. The MSRP is $1,069.

The MPOIII is about the same set-up with two exceptions – it’s not night vision compatible and it features the two dot ballistic reticle. The MSRP is $1,002.

Both packages are intended to give full service with a smaller footprint on the rail. A shorter package over all, consisting of quality components , there is one other advantage. The magnifier has a “flip to the side” (FTS) mount that allows the user to quickly pop the magnifier out of the way when we’re suddenly too close.

I’ll be evaluating an EOTech sight in the near future. It seems their problems may be in the rearview mirror. As I prefer to have more players in the field of combat sights — to increase competition and development, I’m happy to see EOTech isn’t turning a deaf ear to customers.

For more information, see www.L-3com.com.

ANN ARBOR MICHIGAN – L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) announced today that the EOTech division has been awarded a $25 million firm fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (ID/IQ), non-competitive follow-on contract to provide its miniature day/night optical sighting systems in support of the U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Weapons Accessories Program. Production of the units will be performed at the EOTech facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“L-3 EOTech offers the only state-of-the-art holographic weapon sights available and fielded for the military market. We are proud to supply the military with innovative technology that provides our warfighters with both increased accuracy and situational awareness,” said Paul Mangano, president of EOTech.

EOTech’s unique holographic weapon sighting system is based on the same target acquisition technology used on aircraft. When viewed through a holographic sight, the soldier will perceive the reticle on the same plane as the target, eliminating critical sighting time and allowing the operator to instantly engage a target. This complex holographic sighting technology is currently only available in EOTech products.

In support of the Weapons Accessories Program, the L-3 EOTech line of sighting systems offers operators faster and more precise target acquisition capabilities when used with the small arms weapons platforms, as well as other individual and crew-served weapons. EOTech sights significantly improve the effectiveness of launchers by providing faster and more accurate targeting abilities through advanced holographic technology.

L-3 EOTech is the exclusive manufacturer and world leader of holographic sighting systems for small arms and is dedicated to continually producing high-quality, battle-tested products for U.S. servicemen and women. The sights are manufactured and distributed worldwide from the headquarters located in Ann Arbor, Mich. These advanced technology sights are used extensively by elite military groups, federal law enforcement, as well as state and local law enforcement organizations. To learn more about L-3 EOTech, please visit the company’s website at www.L-3com.com/eotech.

Contact:
Amy Miller, L-3 Communications EOTech (734) 572-2170 or amy.d.miller@L-3com.com>amy.d.miller@L-3com.com