Earlier this week we reported that the US Army had issued its first OTA for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Fire Control optic to Vortex Optics. We now learn that L3Harris Technologies has also been awarded an OTA.

L3Harris Technologies have prior experience in developing advanced fire control systems having previously been involved in the US Army’s XM25 CDTE program. For this project they have partnered with optics manufacturer Leupold & Stevens to provide expertise and also manufacturing capability.

Both OTA recipients are now required to deliver their prototype fire control system to the Army within seven months for testing. L3Harris note that the multi-million dollar (although the cost seemingly falls below the $7m mark as neither of the OTA appear on the DoD’s contract award portal) contract includes 115 prototypes which will enable “the soldier to decrease time to engage a threat.”

#L3Harris to deliver 115 production prototypes for the @USArmy's Next Generation Squad Weapon Fire Control solution.

Read more here: https://t.co/jRl8BZCQsm pic.twitter.com/dWpSF2sgDM

— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) April 22, 2020

Here’s what L3Harris Technologies had to say about the award:

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) has received a multi-million dollar contract from the U.S. Army to deliver 115 production prototypes for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Fire Control (NGSW-FC) targeting solution. The NGSW-FC will replace traditional direct view optics currently fielded by the Army.

The NGSW-FC provides an integrated approach to targeting by combining range-finding capability, ballistic computation and environmental sensors that increase the probability of accurate targeting while decreasing the time to engage a threat. The NGSW-FC will support many of the current and future weapon platforms used by the Army.

“L3Harris is proud to offer the U.S. Army a revolutionary fire control solution that will increase soldier lethality and enhance situational awareness,” said Lynn Bollengier, President, Integrated Vision Solutions, L3Harris. “Our solution leverages nearly 30 years of expertise in fire control technology, enabling faster identification and target acquisition, ensuring soldiers achieve overmatch capability on the battlefield. Additionally, we have teamed with Leupold & Stevens to integrate their superior optical assemblies and high volume, domestic manufacturing capabilities to ensure we meet the high quality and capacity requirements set forth by the Army to field this technology alongside the Next Generation Squad Weapons program.”

Leupold have also issued a statent on the OTA and their partnership with L3Harris Technologies:

Leupold and L3 Team Awarded Contract to Deliver Prototypes to U.S. Army For Next-Gen Squad Weapon Fire Control Solution

BEAVERTON, Ore. — Leupold & Stevens, Inc., provider of the world’s most rugged, lightweight, and clear riflescopes, is pleased to announce that L3Harris has been awarded a contract in partnership with Leupold to deliver 115 production prototypes to the United States Army for the Next Generation Squad Weapon Fire Control (NGSW-FC) Program.

The NGSW-FC will replace traditional direct view optics currently fielded by the Army. “Leupold is excited to be teaming with L3Harris to deliver the highest-quality optical solution to the U.S. Army. We are the top manufacturers in our respective fields,” said Bruce Pettet, President and Chief Executive Officer for Leupold & Stevens, Inc. “Leupold brings more than a century of optical expertise and unrivaled domestic manufacturing capacity to the table, and L3 has a proven track record of performance with high-volume government contracts for night vision, electro-optics, and laser aiming devices.

The U.S. military requires the very best, and this partnership will deliver it – with optics that are designed, machined, and assembled in the United States.” The NSGW-FC provides an integrated approach to targeting by combining range-finding capability, ballistic computation, and environmental sensors that increase the probability of accurate targeting while decreasing the time to engage a threat. Leupold and L3 have partnered to deliver a game-changing solution to the United States military. The optic ultimately selected for the NGSW-FC will support many of the current and future weapon platforms utilized by the Army.

Both Leupold and L3Harris have held numerous military contracts in the past. “L3Harris is proud to offer the U.S. Army a revolutionary fire control solution that will increase soldier lethality and enhance situational awareness,” Lynn Bollengier, President, Integrated Vision Solutions, L3Harris said in a press release, “Our solution leverages nearly 30 years of expertise in fire control technology, enabling faster identification and target acquisition, ensuring soldiers achieve overmatch capability on the battlefield. Additionally, we have teamed with Leupold & Stevens to integrate their superior optical assemblies and high volume, domestic manufacturing capabilities to ensure we meet the high quality and capacity requirements set forth by the Army to field this technology alongside the Next Generation Squad Weapons program.”

You can check out all of TFB’s extensive NGSW coverage here.