BAE Systems
BAE Systems recently announced the Integrated Warfighter System (IWS).  Still in the developmental stages, the IWS is BAE Systems’ first attempt to take individual equipment and integrate the modular pieces into an integrated system that optimizes protection, survivability and performance for the individual soldier.

The IWS system features an integrated modular helmet featuring a see-thru display, a GPS antenna, and data/power distribution.  Making the most of these features, the system also provides the user with an integrated combat vest featuring quick release, power/data distribution and Warrior CPU that can be accessed via an arm guard display.  The display features a touch panel to control the features, combined with full video capability, and a power supply indicator.

Kestrel Meters
Kestrel, long known for their high quality weather meters has announced a tactical version of the Kestrel model 3500 and model 4000.  In addition to the olive drab external body, the new NV version features a night-vision preserving backlight.  The backlight incorporates an optical filter to reduce overall brightness and minimize blue and green spectrum light to preserve night vision.  Although the backlight appears as a soft grayish pink, the backlight is still in the visible spectrum, and is not compatible with night-vision equipment.  The Kestrel 3500 provides measurements on nine different environmental measurement conditions. The Kestrel 3500 accurately measures wind chill, air, water, and snow temperature, wind speed, barometric pressure, altitude, dew point, relative humidity, and heat stress index.  Kestrel offers a convenient and effective means of measuring atmospheric conditions for long range shooters and military applications.  Additional information may be found online at www.kestrelmeters.com.

Nightforce Rifle Scopes
Nightforce has introduced three new products to their already extensive product line – the 2.5-10×32 Compact rifle scope.

The Nightforce NXS 2.5-10×32 Compact was created to answer the requests for greater low-light capability in a compact, and lightweight rifle scope.  The NXS 2.5-10×32 has a larger exit pupil aiding in faster target acquisition and improved light transmission.  At just 12 inches in length and 19 ounces, it represents the optimum ratio of size-to-weight performance.

The NXS 2.5-10×32 is available with fully enclosed or exposed turrets with .250 MOA, .1 Mil-Rad, or 1.0 MOA elevation/.5 MOA windage adjustments.  The target style turrets all include Nightforce ZeroStop technology with windage limiter, allowing a quick return to absolute zero regardless of previous elevation adjustments.

The NXS 3.5-15×50 F1 rifle scope was created at the request of U.S. military and other professional shooters for a scope that is extremely fast, applicable to a wide range of targets at various distances, and offering a choice of elevation/windage click values, reticles and ballistic turrets with Nightforce ZeroStop technology.

A reticle located in the first focal plane appears to change size with adjustments in magnification, but in fact it remains in the exact same ratio to the target across the scope’s entire magnification range.  The first focal plane location is especially appropriate for use with rangefinding reticles, since the reticle’s markings remain consistent relative to target size at all magnification settings.  This has distinct advantages in high-stress situations, and when the user can expect to encounter targets at varying distances from close-in to hundreds of yards away.  This design, coupled with the highly tactile and intuitive adjustments common to Nightforce products, makes for a scope that provides extremely rapid target acquisition.

The Nightforce F1 is offered with a choice of three different windage/elevation adjustments: .250 MOA, .1 Mil Radian, or 1.0 MOA elevation/.5 MOA windage.  The NXS 3.5-15 x 50 F1 is currently available with Nightforce Mil-Dot or MLR reticles, both created for tactical and military use.  More reticle choices are planned in the future.

Finally, Nightforce has introduced the Top of Ring Bubble Level, which replaces the top half of Nightforce Unimount, Direct Mount, and Nightforce Mil-Spec rings.  The bubble level is low profile and built directly into the top half of the ring, allowing the shooter to maintain perfectly level rifle alignment—critical at long ranges, when even a slight cant of the firearm can dramatically affect point of impact.  It also aids in precise scope mounting, providing an easy method of making certain the reticle is exactly level.

Nightforce scopes were originally created for U.S. Special Forces for use with night vision devices, testifying to their capability and ruggedness.  For more information contact Nightforce Optics, visit www.nightforceoptics.com.

Schmidt & Bender
Schmidt & Bender of Germany has added the 12-50×56 PM II to their popular line of Police Marksman tactical scopes, the highest magnification riflescope Schmidt & Bender has created to date.

The 12-50X56 PM II is built on a 34 mm tube.  It provides parallax adjustment from 50 meters to infinity, and target-style adjustment turrets.  Eye relief is 70 mm, and the scope measures 16.4 inches (417 mm) in length.

Several reticles are offered with the 12-50×56 PM II, in either the first or second focal plane (depending upon the model).  Military and law enforcement professionals will find the new 12-50×56 PM II applicable to a number of specialized long-range applications and weapons, while the competition shooter will enjoy Schmidt & Bender quality, light transmission and legendary optics in a versatile riflescope of extreme magnification.

Schmidt & Bender also announced release of the Summit, an all-new riflescope design, their first to be built upon a one-inch tube.  “While Schmidt & Bender’s hunting scope line for many years has utilized only 30mm tubes, we recognize that there are thousands of hunters out there with one-inch rings on their rifles,” said Mark Cromwell of Schmidt & Bender USA.  “We speak with hunters every day who would like to enjoy Schmidt & Bender’s legendary brilliance, quality and superior light transmission in the field, but who wish to use existing rings and bases.  Now most will have that opportunity.”

The Summit’s 40mm objective lens allows for a compact, low-profile scope while still providing some of the highest light transmission values of any riflescope on the market.  Eye relief is 100 mm (almost a full four inches), making the Summit particularly appropriate for mounting on magnum and large-caliber rifles.

The Summit 2.5-10 x 40 is also one of the first Schmidt & Bender hunting models to feature a reticle in the second focal plane.  With second focal plane construction, the viewed reticle size remains the same across the entire magnification range, as opposed to its appearing to increase in size at higher magnifications, as is the case with first focal plane location.

The Summit is also one of the lightest-weight hunting scopes Schmidt & Bender has ever produced (16.8 oz.), making it particularly appropriate for use on mountain and other lightweight rifles.  Field of view is excellent, from 40.4 to 10.8 feet at 100 yards (2.5 to 10 power).  The wide magnification range is extremely versatile, allowing close shots in thick timber at its lowest setting, along with precise shot placement at all but the longest ranges at 10x.  For more information, visit www.schmidtbender.com.

Brenneke
The German firm Brenneke is now introducing their revolutionary Quik-Shok Copper centerfire rifle bullets in loaded cartridges.  The Brenneke Quik-Shok Copper bullet is an innovative completely lead-free design, providing a combination of excellent penetration with “controlled fragmentation” that results in a more powerful terminal effect than conventional rifle bullets can produce – regardless of bullet material.

While a conventional rifle bullet expands slowly and progressively during penetration, creating a single wound channel, the Quik-Shok Copper expands very quickly upon contact, then separates into four segments that continue to penetrate deeply.  The result is a highly dynamic terminal action that creates expansion far larger than the bullet’s initial caliber, four wound channels versus just one, increased hemorrhage and more primary shock and blood loss than ordinary bullets can generate.  The Brenneke Quik-Shok Copper’s distinctive design addresses these concerns, the result being a projectile with effectiveness that meets or exceeds that of any lead-based construction.

The Brenneke Quik-Shok Copper will initially be offered in 155 grain weights for the .30-06 and the .308.  Additional calibers are planned.  The .30-06 loading produces 2,953 fps velocity and 3,001 ft. lbs. of energy at the muzzle, while the .308 generates 2,789 fps and 2,675 ft. lbs. at the muzzle.  For more information, visit www.brennekeusa.com.