*UNSTF Drummond wrote:I have not disputed the use of ACOG's in the middle east but have seen no official word on it as standard issue kit let alone if the BA is issuing ACOG's as standard to its forces around the rest of the world
It isn't standard issue, it's an Urgent Operational Requirement - the operation in question being HERRICK, the British contribution to ISAF in Afghanistan. Those sights will only go to Afghanistan unless another UOR is raised for another theatre - but since HERRICK is the main/only focus, we don't spend money anywhere else.
When the FIST STA programme I mentioned earlier is finally delivered (~12-18 months),
those sight systems (Elcan w/ CQB) will become standard issue across the Armed Forces and, in theory, replace the ACOGs. Unfortunately we then get into the issue of bodging the old kit which we actually still want, but technically don't support, like the L129A1 DMR (which I
believe is a UOR, and thus not technically standard issue equipment). People will want to keep them, because they're useful, so we'll fiddle it into the core somehow.
At that point it becomes a whole mess of bureaucracy and I start to get a headache. Welcome to government procurement and working with the Army.
