The Pakistani state arms company Pakistan Ordnance Factory has updated their clone of the Israeli Corner Shot weapon system, with their POF Eye system. We covered the POF Eye on TFB back in 2008, but since then the company has been continually updating the design. Most recent is the addition of an LCD screen mounted on the users back, that allows team members behind the user to see what the user is observed through the system. In addition the system now has an ocular device that straps to the user’s helmet, and a battery pack that straps to a vest. The battery pack is configured so a battery can be inserted by the user from above for a quick “reload” of batteries.

From Army Recognition–

The POF Eye package has image downloading and transmission capability so that the enemy can be located and information shared with other troops to enable the commandos to take the best positions to engage the targets.

At IDEAS 2016, the POF Eye package upgrade was fitted with an IR camera with an effective range of 20m. The video recorded by the camera can be transmitted on the on a monocular screen fitted on the helmet. At the same time all the video information can be send by data link at a maximum range of 400m.

The video is also displayed on large color screen fitted at the back of the soldier allowing all the assault team to see the combat situation.

Though initially very forward thinking and pioneering from the Israelis, and copied by the Pakistanis, South Koreans, Indians, Iranians, and Chinese, I think the design is dead in the water. The concept of being able to shoot from behind a corner or wall, without exposing ones self has been tested for at least the past century, and although innovative, hasn’t seen much actual operational success. On a MOUT range with targets, it appears to work fine. But the problem is that MOUT isn’t a cookie cutter situation to begin with, targets aren’t always going to be present within the tidy confines of an LCD screen, but instead exist at all matters of angles and locations.