IEA MIL-OPTICS GmbH (IEA), a company specializing in optics and night-vision devices and the official German distributor for Israeli SmartShooter products, has received an order from the German Armed Forces' planning office to supply optical fire-control systems for machine guns for testing.
The order concerns the SmartShooter Smash smart sights, which are already in use by German forces (a contract for up to 500 Smash X4 units was signed in January).
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As Hartpunkt notes, the new deal very likely includes not only the supply of the sights but also integration of fire-control systems onto machine guns possibly not only on the MG5 but on miniguns such as the MG6 as well.
The size of the contract reportedly more than €1.2 million hints at integration work, since a single bare smart sight costs only a few thousand euros. Integration typically requires development of special mounts or grips for particular weapons.
At the same time, its worth recalling that Smash sights are only one of several modern solutions Germany is considering to counter unmanned aerial systems.
Last year the Bundeswehr outlined a fairly broad set of required capabilities for drone defence in addition to smart sights, that list included multispectral ponchos, tactical electronic warfare systems, and anti-drone UAVs.
Returning to the Smash sights specifically: SmartShooter unveiled a new Smash 3000 variant earlier this yeardesigned for large-calibre machine guns; it promises accurate engagement out to 400 metres and is aimed particularly at countering long-range strike drones like the Shahed family.
Development of the Smash sight has been ongoing for more than seven years. In 2018 it was positioned primarily as a solution for engaging personnel, but by 2020 U.S. forces were already testing it specifically for counter-drone use.
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