US Marines receive innovative optic device for identifying threats from greater distances
The Squad Common Optic is said to have twice the range of the previously-introduced Rifle Combat Optic assault rifle sight, as well as variable magnification
Eyal Boguslavsky
| 03/03/2021
Photo: US Marine Corps
The US Marine Corps Systems Command’s Program Manager for Infantry Weapons began fielding in January the Squad Common Optic (SCO), a magnified day optic comprising an illuminated and non-illuminated aim-point designed to improve target acquisition and probability-of-hit with infantry assault rifles.
The SCO can be attached to the M4 and M4A1 carbine as well as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. It is intended to replace the Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) and the Squad Day Optic currently in use.
The SCO is an improvement over the RCO, the MilitaryLeak website noted. The SCO enables marines to identify targets from farther distances than the existing RCO system. The RCO has a fixed magnification, whereas the SCO provides a variable power. This means marines can use the SCO to identify targets at both close and far distances, providing twice the visual range of the RCO. According to Marine Corps officers, the SCO is agnostic to the round and weapon system, which provides additional flexibility for marines. This allows for movement to a different host weapon and accommodates the employment of the M855, M855A1 or future ammunition. The SCO gives squad leaders or individual riflemen more time to make a decision to eliminate that threat if necessary. The system is also easy to assemble. The SCO includes a mount that prevents marines from needing to carry tools to remove or exchange the optic, lightening the load for marines, according to the report.
The SCO program moved rapidly from program designation to fielding in just 16 months. After awarding a contract, the Program Manager for Infantry Weapons conducted various user assessments, including a simulated 10,000-round fire exercise, during production verification testing to confirm performance and resolve issues. During these evaluations, marines raved about the benefits of the SCO and its improvement over the existing system. The program office anticipates the weapon reaching Full Operational Capability in fiscal year 2022, MilitaryLeak said.
The Squad Common Optic is said to have twice the range of the previously-introduced Rifle Combat Optic assault rifle sight, as well as variable magnification
Photo: US Marine Corps
The US Marine Corps Systems Command’s Program Manager for Infantry Weapons began fielding in January the Squad Common Optic (SCO), a magnified day optic comprising an illuminated and non-illuminated aim-point designed to improve target acquisition and probability-of-hit with infantry assault rifles.
The SCO can be attached to the M4 and M4A1 carbine as well as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. It is intended to replace the Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) and the Squad Day Optic currently in use.
The SCO is an improvement over the RCO, the MilitaryLeak website noted. The SCO enables marines to identify targets from farther distances than the existing RCO system. The RCO has a fixed magnification, whereas the SCO provides a variable power. This means marines can use the SCO to identify targets at both close and far distances, providing twice the visual range of the RCO. According to Marine Corps officers, the SCO is agnostic to the round and weapon system, which provides additional flexibility for marines. This allows for movement to a different host weapon and accommodates the employment of the M855, M855A1 or future ammunition. The SCO gives squad leaders or individual riflemen more time to make a decision to eliminate that threat if necessary. The system is also easy to assemble. The SCO includes a mount that prevents marines from needing to carry tools to remove or exchange the optic, lightening the load for marines, according to the report.
The SCO program moved rapidly from program designation to fielding in just 16 months. After awarding a contract, the Program Manager for Infantry Weapons conducted various user assessments, including a simulated 10,000-round fire exercise, during production verification testing to confirm performance and resolve issues. During these evaluations, marines raved about the benefits of the SCO and its improvement over the existing system. The program office anticipates the weapon reaching Full Operational Capability in fiscal year 2022, MilitaryLeak said.
