home Weapons Firearms Laser Modules Enhancing Assault Rifles

Laser Modules Enhancing Assault Rifles

Mar 11, 2020

Photo illus. from Wikimedia- — An Italian soldier from the 183rd Airborne Regiment aims his SCP70 assault rifle during a decisive action training environment exercise, Saber Junction 2012, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Oct. 28, 2012. Saber Junction 2012, the U.S. Army Europe's premier training event, is a large-scale, joint, multinational, military exercise involving thousands of personnel from 19 different nations and hundreds of military aircrafts and vehicles. It is the largest exercise of its kind that U.S. Army Europe has conducted in more than 20 years. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jordan Fuller/Not Released)

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

Laser light modules mounted on weapons enable the exact target acquisition and marking. The technology enables the user to electronically focus the illuminator, therefore eliminating the need to manipulate the weapon in the dark.

The Swiss Army ordered new laser light modules for detecting, identifying and marking targets. The laser light modules – known as the LLM 19 in Swiss military parlance – will be mounted on soldiers’ assault rifles. The devices were developed in order to enhance the tactical effectiveness of small arms.

The purchase is part of the Swiss Army 2019 defense procurement program. Rheinmetall will supply the 9,640 VarioRay LLM laser light modules. The supply is set to commence in May 2020 and be complete by the end of 2022. The order includes accessories, spare parts and training support.

Weighing approximately 240 grams, the VarioRay LLM can be mounted on a MIL-STD 1913 rail on any assault rifle, and operated via a trigger cable, according to armyrecognition.com. Together with the night vision and thermal imaging devices also acquired under the 2019 defense procurement programme, it will enable Swiss troops to perform their missions around the clock and in all weather conditions.

Rheinmetall-made aiming lasers are already in service with the Swiss Army. The same laser light modules form part of Germany’s Future Soldier System-Extended System, or IdZ-ES, and are used by the British Army, among others.