If you recall, I reviewed the MAWL-C1+ back in March 2018. The MAWL-C1+ is the civilian rated version of the MAWL-DA (Direct Action). Well now BE Meyers just announced the adoption of their MAWL (Modular Advanced Weapon Laser) to the Department of Defense. The MAWL-X1 will be used for individual and crew served weapons.

MAWL All The Things

September 16, 2019 (Redmond, WA) – B.E. Meyers & Co., Inc. is proud to announce the addition of MAWL®-X1, a United States Department of Defense specific variant of the company’s highly successful MAWL® (Modular Advanced Weapon Laser) line of high-powered aiming and illumination laser systems for individual and crew-served weapons.

In 2017 B.E. Meyers & Co. submitted a Flat Dark Earth, Near-Infrared / Visible MAWL® featuring the EC2 threaded Endcap to the Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP) via the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, known as the MAWL®-X1. Following submission, PdM-SPTD procured it for Limited User Evaluations, which were conducted by various Combat Arms including units within the 82nd Airborne Division, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and the 2nd Infantry Division, among others. Approximately 766 MAWL®-X1 units have been fielded since 2018.

The MAWL is a very simple and intuitive design. There are two buttons, A & B. This is for various power settings. A is higher power and B is lower power. Then you have a three position sliding switch that changes the pre-determined IR illuminators. On the MAWL-C1+ there are three illuminators. Two close range, and one long range. There are two mid range illuminators for varying power output and the midrange option turns both the close range and long range illuminators. When you slide the switch to long range then you have a tightly focused illuminator for illuminating out to 600 yards. Although I have personally been able to illuminate targets as far as 800 yards coupled with e PVS-26 clip on night vision device. (CNVD).

The MAWL-X1 is just like the C1+ in that it is truly ambidextrous. BE Meyers went with an offset design but this positions the main body directly over the top rail, if you mount it there. Want to set it up for a left handed shooter? Rotate the body 180 degrees and swap the head with the tail cap. The offset design allows for a lower profile button setup. Other lasers are generally a big box that sits on top of the handguard. So now you have to reach up and over this giant box to activate it. Another common problem with the competition is that many of them are not left hand friendly. Sure they have band-aid solutions like a remote tape switch but that adds unnecessary complications and wastes rail space.

The main factor of the MAWL system is the unparalleled IR illuminator. It is basically a really good laser flashlight. Even the C1+ civilian version out shines many full power competitor lasers when it comes to their illuminators. Just take a look at the photo below. The MAWL long range illuminator is pristine. Many competitor illuminators suffer from a dirty looking beam pattern or in the case of civilian rated illuminators they are too anemic and basically useless.

It is exciting to see that the military is getting quality products like the MAWL-X1. I am curious to know what the specs are on the MAWL-X1 vs the MAWL-DA and MAWL-C1+.