The U.S. Army has awarded Sheltered Wings Inc. d/b/a Vortex Optics, based in Barneveld, WI, a 10-year firm fixed price, Follow-on Production Other Transaction Agreement (P-OTA) with a maximum ceiling value of $2.7 billion for production and delivery of up to 250,000 XM157 Next Generation Squad Weapons – Fire Control (NGSW-FC) systems over a 10-year period. The agreement minimum is $20 million and provides the U.S. Government the ability to procure fire control systems, supporting accessories, spare parts, repairs, and engineering services, to include requirements for other Department of Defense Services and potential Foreign Military Sales.
The NGSW-FC system is a ruggedized fire control that increases accuracy and lethality for the Close Combat Force. It integrates a number of advanced technologies, including a variable magnification optic, backup etched reticle, laser rangefinder, ballistic calculator, atmospheric sensor suite, compass, Intra-Soldier Wireless, visible and infrared aiming lasers, and a digital display overlay. The NGSW-FC will serve as the fire control for the Next Generation Squad Weapons – Rifle and Automatic Rifle. The NGSW-FC is the planned replacement for the Close Combat Optic, Rifle Combat Optic, and Machine Gun Optic within the Close Combat Force (Infantry, Cavalry Scouts and Combat Engineers).
The system will be integrated on both the NGSW-Rifle and NGSW-Automatic Rifle. The fire control system includes a number of advanced technologies to increase the accuracy and lethality of soldiers, according to the release from PEO Soldier. The integrated technologies are variable magnification optic, backup etched reticle, laser rangefinder, ballistic calculator, atmospheric sensor suite, compass, Intra-Soldier Wireless, visible and infrared aiming lasers, and a digital display overlay. The Next Generation Squad Weapons program is one of the Army’s 35 modernization priority programs and among the 24 programs that Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said would be in prototyping by sometime in fiscal 2023.
Sheltered Wings, Inc. is located in Barneveld, WI, United States and is part of the Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers Industry. Sheltered Wings, Inc. has 219 total employees across all of its locations and generates $117.20 million in sales (USD). Vortex Optics is a DBA of Sheltered Wings, Inc., which was incorporated in Wisconsin in 1989. Sheltered Wings, Inc. DBA Vortex Optics began in 2002. Vortex Optics is an American manufacturer of optical equipments for hunting, wildlife watching, outdoor recreation, shooting sports and law enforcement. Vortex products include binoculars, spotting scopes, riflescopes, reflex sights, holographic sights and other accessories.