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ntroduction: Technology has been used to develop the sighting system in weapons, progressing from open sights to optical sights and paving the way for a field called Tactical Optics. Tactical Optics market is divided into two distinct segments – product segment and user segment. While the product segment includes weapon scopes, sights, hand held night vision devices, cameras, displays etc; the end user segment includes ground based (for dismounted soldiers, border surveillance, armoured vehicles), weapon based or aerial based scopes. Another type of segmentation can be optical and electro optical devices. While the optical devices are purely optical in nature, the electro-optical includes laser based, IR based and thermal based, etc.

The Market

 

As per estimates and reports published, the global Tactical Optics market size is projected to grow from US$9.7 billion in 2020 to US$13.0 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 6.1 per cent from 2020 to 2025. Some of the factors that are expected to fuel the demand for Tactical Optics include the increased procurement of military equipment, modernisation programmes by militaries globally, and the need for remote weapon stations and turrets for armoured vehicles and naval ships. In addition, increased demands of homeland security due to the prevailing global terrorism are likely to fuel the demand of Tactical Optics further. The prediction based on different segments can be summarised as follows:

• Based on product: The cameras and displays segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period due to an increase in the number of platforms where these cameras and displays are mounted. With the enhanced usage of drones in military and homeland security, this would see a proliferation of use of cameras.
• Based on platform: The ground segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the tactical optics market by 2025. Profoundly used as sniper scopes, armoured vehicles, range finders, hand held thermal devices, networked CCTV, this segment has multifarious usage. Armoured optical fibre has a huge demand even though loosely considered as a part of this segment.
Factors expected to fuel the demand for Tactical Optics include the increased procurement of military equipment, modernisation programmes by militaries globally, and the need for remote weapon stations and turrets for armoured vehicles and naval ships
• Based on end use: The unmanned platform segment is projected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. It has been widely evident even in homeland security during the recent pandemic.
• Based on regions: The Asia Pacific is estimated to lead the tactical optics market from 2020 onwards for another decade. The market in this region has tremendous potential due to the need for dismounted soldiers, armoured vehicles, drones, aircraft, and helicopters. Additionally, the increased procurement of weapons for soldiers is driving the Asia Pacific Tactical Optics market.

Market Players

 

• Global: The known global players are Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway), Raytheon Company (US), Elbit Systems (Israel), Saab AB (Sweden) are considered Tier I players, whereas Leonardo, BAE Systems (UK), Sig Sauer (US), Vortex Optics (US), Bushnell Corporation (US), Leupold & Stevens (US) are considered Tier II players.
• India There are very few Indian manufacturers in the Tactical Optics market. Even the existing manufacturers are limited to producing optical scopes for sports guns and optical fibre. These are Alpha Design Technologies (Bengaluru), M/s Sarvel (Kanpur), Ellen Safety Group (New Delhi), HFCL and Apar Industries Ltd producing Armoured Optical fibre. Of these, only Alpha Design produces scopes which meet Mil 810 std.

While there is a large scope for grabbing the Tactical Optics market by Indian manufactures specially in Asia Pacific region, yet there are none who have developed products which meet the relevant standards and the tactical need for forces (including home land security). It is pertinent to note that the need for R&D in this field especially for the ground segment and cameras is not very complex and time consuming. There is a need for Indian manufacturers to take up the challenge and grab the opportunity.

 Quality Standards

The equipment should be designed for the soldier is to function continuously and that too at optimal efficiency. It is therefore imperative that the equipment should cater for conditions of fog, dust, smoke, vibrations, shock and electromagnetic interference. There is a need for entrepreneurs/ OEM to know the conditions which their product must be ready to face. The specifications are given at JS55555 and JSSG (Joint Services Specifications Guide). However, the standards will not be so rigid for use of equipment by para-military forces and commercially ruggedised equipment would suffice. Some standards and quality requirements are appended below:

The known global players for Tactical Optics are Kongsberg Gruppen (Norway), Raytheon Company (US), Elbit Systems (Israel), Saab AB (Sweden), Leonardo, BAE Systems (UK), Sig Sauer (US), Vortex Optics (US), Bushnell Corporation (US), Leupold & Stevens (US)
• Temperature ➢ Operating temperature +55°C+/-3°C to -30°C +/-3°C
• ➢ Storage temperature +70°C+/-3°C to -40°C +/-3°C
•  Dust-Equipment has to function under conditions of heavy dust and hence must be sealed to prevent ingress of the same and therefore needs to meet Ingress Protection (IP) standard. IP 68 is desirable for equipment.
• Water-The role of the equipment decides whether it needs to be water proof, water resistant or water repellent. The surface and the gaskets of the equipment have to be incorporated accordingly to meet the IP specification.
• Wind Speed-These equipment should be able to sustain wind speeds up to 120 Km/hr for ground based equipment. Equipment mounted on airborne mounts should be compatible for speeds specified by the user.
• Humidity-All equipment must be able to function under humidity conditions of 95 per cent.
• Vibrations-It may be surprising, but vibrations are a very important consideration. This is because when equipment is loaded in vehicle and moved, it experiences vibrations. In battlefield, it also experiences vibrations when explosions occur around the equipment.

The platform on which the equipment is mounted also effects i.e. whether it is a static platform or a vehicle, or a tank or the equipment has to be kept on ground during operation. For aircraft/ military UAV based equipment, the equipment must meet Mil 810 std.

It is therefore imperative that the Tactical Optics equipment should cater for conditions of fog, dust, smoke, vibrations, shock and electromagnetic interference
• Drop: All equipment should be able to sustain a drop of minimum three feet in unpacked condition without breakages.
• Corrosion: All items should be corrosion proof and rust proof.
• Fire Proof/ Fire Retardant/ Fire Resistant: It must be clarified from the user whether any such standard is to be met.
• Water Proof/ Water Resistant/ Water Retardant: It must be clarified from the user whether any such standard is to be met.
• Endurance: In case the equipment is meant for war, it should be able to be operated continuously for minimum 72 hours and at a stretch for seven days with minimum break.
• Electronic Electrical Items: All electronic items need to meet Electromagnetic Interference/ Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMI/EMC) standards Mil 461D/F. Equipment for homeland security should meet Limit B of commercial standards so as not to interfere with each other.
• ISO: The following ISO standards are important for such products

            ➢ ISO 14490 – Telescopic Systems

            ➢ ISO 21094 – Performance of Night Vision Devices

            ➢ ISO 5725 – Accuracy (Trueness and Precision)

            ➢ ISO 11664 – Colorimetry

            ➢ ISO 7944:1998 – Optical and Optical Instruments- Reference wavelengths

            ➢ ISO 20473:2007 – Optics and Photonics – Spectral bands

• Other requirements which need to be paid attention to include durability, accuracy, selection of appropriate reticle and mounting method, etc.

Conclusion

While the market for Tactical Optics is growing and these are inevitable for the defence forces as well as homeland security, it is imperative that Indian start ups and entrepreneurs must gear up to meet the requirements to reap rich rewards. The need is to tap the vast talent available across the country and channelise them to fruitful goals.

– The author is an Indian Army veteran, and has been Principal Consultant to Department of Urban Development, Govt of MP for Smart City Projects. He can be reached at: manoj_42ch@yahoo.co.in

– The co-author is a seasoned management professional, and has been associated with various think tanks in defence and security. Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda