--- title: "Here’s your first look at the Army’s futuristic new sniper scope in action" description: "The Army in late February tweeted out photos of a \"sneak peek\" at the service's new Family of Weapon Sights-Sniper (FWS-S)" date: "2021-03-06" modified: "2021-03-08" authors: - name: "Jared Keller" job_title: "Former Managing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-family-of-weapon-sights-sniper-photos/" categories: - "Army" - "Military Branches" - "News" - "Tactics" - "Tech & Tactics" --- # Here’s your first look at the Army’s futuristic new sniper scope in action ![]() *The Family of Weapons Sights-Sniper affixed to the top of a Remington Arms M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (U.S. Army photo)* The Army has released photos of soldiers testing a next-generation thermal sniper rifle optic that will purportedly triple the range of existing options. The Army's Program Executive Office Soldier in late February tweeted out photos of a "sneak peek" at the service's new Family of Weapon Sights-Sniper (FWS-S) affixed to the top of M107 and M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle systems. https://twitter.com/PEOSoldier/status/1364598627012870144 The Army confirmed to Task & Purpose that the photos were the first publicly-released images of the FWS-S in action. "FWS-S is currently in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) Phase of Acquisition," PEO Soldiers spokesman Justin Sweet said. "The Army has not released any public information concerning FWS-S fielding since the systems are still developmental." The FWS-S thermal sensor, which is designed to provide snipers with thermal imagery in all weather conditions, "extends lethality for snipers to 1,800 meters, three times longer than the 600-meter capability provided by an image intensified system," [according]() to the Army. Designed to mount in-line with a sniper's day optic on the M107, M2010, and M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System and Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System, the service calls the FWS-S "the first clip-on thermal weapon sight specifically developed and fielded by the Army for the sniper community." ![]() *The Family of Weapons Sights-Sniper affixed to the top of a Barrett M107 sniper system. (U.S. Army photo)* While the FWS-S has been in the EMD phase of the acquisition process [for five years](), the new photos of the system flexing its muscles on the range comes amid a sweeping revamp of the Army's sniper capabilities. In January, the service [announced]() that it was officially moving to purchase several thousand next-generation sniper rifles — the much-hyped Multi-Role Adaptive Design rifle from Barrett — to field to snipers and EOD personnel over the next five years. The MRAD, which comes chambered in 7.62×51 mm NATO, .300 Norma Magnum, and .338 Norma Magnum with the help of a conversion kit, will eventually replace both the M107 and M2010 in the Army's arsenal [through the Precision Sniper Rifle program](). The Army previously [planned]() on fielding the MRAD as its PSR starting in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2021. According to officials, the service plans on securing a five-year contract for the rifles sometime “this spring.” [According]() to the Army, the new FWS-S will also affix to the top of the MRAD once it's adopted under the PSR program, although service officials did not offer a target fielding date for the FWS-S when queried by Task & Purpose. ***Related: [The Army is officially buying the sniper rifle the entire US military wants]()*** ## Author Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Facebook]() [LinkedIn]() [Instagram]()