U.S. Army Selected Vortex To Provide Its Next Generation Squad Weapon - Fire Control Optic (XM157)
Vortex Optics is to produce and deliver up to 250,000 (NGSW-FC) systems
Vortex Optics Explains the Next Generation Squad Weapons Fire Control Optic
Vortex Optic XM157 was designed and built with the needs of the current and future warfighter in mind. The XM157 - invented, designed and engineered entirely in-house at Vortex® Headquarters - is a Low Powered Variable Optic LPVO with a display overlay, Laser Rangefinder LRF, ballistic solver, environmental sensors, aiming lasers, digital compass, and wireless communication to provide for seamless connectivity on the battlefield.
The XM157 is built around a 1-8x30 LPVO featuring a glass-etched reticle on lenses made entirely in the U.S. The XM157 weighs less than many traditional LPVOs with current weapon mounted LRFs and associated mounts and enables America’s servicemen and women to engage threats quickly and effectively.
With an integrated picatinny base that houses the Vortex® Active Reticle® system, the XM157 injects a digitally displayed image into the first focal plane of the optic and allows for intuitive displays to support ballistic drops, reticle shapes and sizes, and additional modes to display way points, identified threats, and fields of fire.
Vortex Optic (XM157)
Alexander Lewis from Vortex’s secret-squirrel sector discusses (NGSW-FC)
For a behind the scenes look at what it took to bring the Vortex Optics XM157 from concept to reality, check out the latest episode of the Vortex Nation™ Podcast
08:44 – LPVO at its Core
16:22 – Smart Scope Technology
19:43 – “Active Reticle™”
29:07 – Size/Weight
33:08 – Laser Rangefinder/Interfaces
42:53 – Battery/Power
To account for a rapidly evolving battlefield and a broad range of climates and weather conditions, the optic withstood rigorous drop-testing, extreme hot and cold environments, immersion testing, and tens of thousands of rounds of live-fire testing.
With a clear focus on ease of use, the combined technology enables the XM157 to range a target, send the information to an on-board ballistic solver, gather atmospheric information, and display an illuminated Active Reticle® corrected aimpoint with wind holds in the user’s sight picture, all in tenths of a second. To provide for flexibility in the field, the XM157 can be controlled via an on-board keypad or a detachable remote.
As the production period begins, Vortex® will leverage a talented collective of American aerospace machine shops and American lens manufacturers to supply components to be assembled entirely at Vortex® Headquarters in Barneveld, Wisconsin.
Vortex’s XM157 beat the submission from L3Harris Technologies to win the 10 year fixed price contract worth a minimum of $20 million but with a “maximum ceiling value of $2.7 billion for production and delivery of up to 250,000 XM157” optics. With a starting price of $20 million, the NGSW-FC Optic contract will cover the XM157 advanced optics as well as supporting accessories, spare parts, repairs, engineering services. The Vortex subsidiary Sheltered Wings will fulfill the contract.