Family of Weapon Sights (FWS)
Abstract
There are three variants in the Family of Weapon Sights: FWS-Individual (FWS-I), FWS-Crew Served (FWS-CS) and FWS-Sniper (FWS-S). These sights enable combat forces to acquire and engage targets with small arms and conduct surveillance and fire control under day/night obscurants, no-light, and adverse weather conditions. The FWS utilizes advancements in thermal and low light level sensors to produce sights operable in-line with a day optic or in stand-alone mode. This RDT&E project integrates smaller pixel thermal detectors/imagers in high definition formats with improved sensitivity, clarity, and range, while simultaneously reducing the size, weight and power consumption for all FWS variants and provides a minimum of a 20% overmatch for each of the weapon platforms they are intended. The FWS-I variant is a weapon-mounted thermal sensor that enables Soldiers to fire quickly and accurately from any carry position and with significantly reduced exposure to enemy fire by providing a wireless, zeroed weapon aimpoint in the Soldier's Enhanced Night Vision Goggle - Binocular (ENVG-B) or Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS). FWS-I requires RDT&E in FY2022 and FY2023 to design and qualify a second vendor in production, because additional capacity is required to meet the increase AAO of 112K. The FWS-CS variant leverages the success of the FWS-I development effort, and will be the primary sight for the MK19, M240B and M2. The FWS-CS system integrates High Definition (HD) Thermal and Day Color imagers, an Integrated Laser Range Finder (ILRF) and ballistic calculator to provide Soldiers with an accurate aimpoint that adjusts automatically for range, ammunition characteristics, vertical angle, and weapon cant. The FWS-CS includes a wireless HD Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) that receives weapon sight imagery allowing the Soldier to utilize the weapon sight without requiring them to look through the weapon sights eyepiece. This wireless HMD provides the opportunity for the Solder to stay in a protected, unexposed posture while still accurately detecting and engaging targets. Additionally, the FWS-CS will integrate into Adaptive Squad Architecture and wirelessly share video and data with the Night Vision Systems (NVS) and the Nett Warrior End User Device (EUD). All wireless communication will be through the Intra Soldier Wireless (ISW) Network. The FWS-S variant utilizes a HD thermal sensor and mounts in-line with the Sniper's direct view optic providing a thermal capability without the need to remove or re-boresight the current direct view optic. The FWS-S provides Snipers a large format display with increased pixel density that enables accurate long range engagements in all battlefield conditions while utilizing the direct view optic's aiming features, extending lethality and providing exceptional observation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 7d3aabfed1e5eb5c889f5cfe1f85a5ed