Russo-Ukraine War
62-398: The Advanced Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Laser, ATPIAL AN/PEQ-15 known colloquially as the "PEQ-15" [ / p ɛ k / / f ɪ f t iː n / ] produced by L3Harris (originally designed and manufactured by Insight Technology , until their acquisition by L3Harris in 2010); is a multifunction IR Target Pointer & Illuminator, a.k.a. a Laser Aiming Module (LAM) for use as
124-678: A Leupold TS-30A2 Mark 4 MR/T 2.5-8x36mm variable power scope, the same optic fitted on the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle . Although certain selected M27s had been employed as marksman rifles since 2016, the M38 version uses an optic with greater magnification. The naming of the M38 followed a similar convention to the M27, being named after the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines unit that tested the rifle. By April 2018, fielding to all three Marine expeditionary forces had been completed. One M38 marksman version, fitted with
186-507: A 3/32" hex key; however as these items are controlled, the removal of the screw in military units must be done by the unit armorer or equivalent only at the direct of the unit commander. The screw can be seen fitted in the images of the top of the PEQ-15. The standard power PEQ-15 variant, with single power visible laser, and high and low, IR Laser and IR Illuminator module. The low power modes can be used during force-on-force training, however
248-713: A concept to suppress every weapon in an infantry battalion. Exercises showed that having all weapons suppressed improved squad communication and surprise during engagements. Disadvantages included additional heat and weight, increased maintenance, and the greater cost of equipping so many troops with the attachment. In July 2020, the Marine Corps announced it would be ordering suppressors for use by all M27s used by close combat units. The Marines began to roll out suppressors for all M27s in infantry, reconnaissance and special operations units in December 2020. The QDSS, in use since
310-538: A forward grip, or the handguard in a position accessible while aiming the rifle. The AN/PEQ-15A DBAL-A2 by Steiner is of a different design, instead with two main function dials on the rear of the unit that face the operator when holding the weapon, the left dial selects the power and operation mode, and the right dial selects the specific laser/emitters to use. Similar to the L3 units, the Steiner DBAL- A2 also has
372-662: A noncaliber-specific reticle and an illuminated or nonilluminated aim-point and is intended to supplement the attrition and replacement of the older ACOG RCO and SDO sights for weapons including the M27. Fielding of the VCOG SCO began in January 2021. In December 2021, the USMC signaled intention to acquire 19,000 units of the SCO. In January 2017, a USMC unit deployed with KAC NT4 QDSS suppressors mounted to their M27 rifles as part of
434-530: A pre-solicitation notice for the M27. "The new pre-solicitation notice of 50,184 [M27s]", said Woodburn, "is [meant] to up the production capacity that H&K must be able to meet as the sole-source provider [of the M27], should the Marines decide to order more in the future." At SHOT Show 2018, the Marine Corps announced that the deal with H&K to produce 11,000 M27s for the Marine Corps had been finalized and that
496-604: A rifle attachment, using a Picatinny rail mounting system. The ATPIAL is designated using the Joint Electronics Type Designation System , and designated as: AN = Army/Navy. P = Portable. E = Laser. Q = Special or Combination. The PEQ-15 was brought into service in 2003 during the Global War on Terrorism . The PEQ-15 is the most widely used LAM on the market, having been the standard issue for American regular forces, and still
558-644: A role where it replaced the Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle . Additionally, the free-floating barrel offers improved accuracy at approximately 2 MOA compared with 4.5 MOA for M16A4 rifles. The M27 is based on the H&;K HK416 . It features a gas-operated short-stroke piston action with a rotating bolt and a free-floating barrel. The handguard has four MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails for use with accessories and optics. Alternate calibers other than 5.56 mm are being considered for
620-583: A safety screw to lockout the high-power modes. On the DBAL-A2 it is fitted to the left mode dial, locking out the MOM ;HI PWR and ON HI PWR selector options. The high-power settings of the lasers and illuminator are classified as Class IIIB lasers and have the potential to damage eyesight; as the PEQ-15s are used in training environments when doing blank-fire, force on force training, only
682-416: A single, or a dual combination of functions, these modes are detailed in the table below. Once the mode has been selected, the activation of the pressure pad activates the function selected. The unit has an inbuilt switch, but it also has a remote cable switch socket to allow for a remote pressure pad to be located elsewhere on the rifle, in a natural position that can be activated while shooting; this may be on
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#1732781069890744-663: Is ITAR restricted and its export outside of the United States is strictly prohibited without a valid export license, prescribed in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). A lower powered "eye safe" model is available for sale to private citizens with a Class I IR laser and fixed focus illuminator as the ATPIAL-C. The Advanced Target Pointer/ Illuminator/ Aiming Light (ATPIAL) AN/PEQ-15
806-728: Is a 5.56mm , select-fire assault rifle , based on the HK416 by Heckler & Koch . It is used by the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and is intended to be issued to all infantry riflemen as well as automatic riflemen . The USMC initially planned to purchase 6,500 M27s to replace a portion of the M249 light machine guns employed by automatic riflemen within Infantry and Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions. Approximately 8,000–10,000 M249s will remain in service with
868-514: Is an HK416 variant with accessories required by the Marine Corps. It is issued with the Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Applications sling and rail sling mounts, AIM Manta Rail Covers, Harris bipod, KAC backup iron sights, a foregrip, and bayonet lug . The M27 initially had a grip pod, which is a foregrip with bipod legs inside, but it was replaced by a separate foregrip and bipod. The standard optic
930-524: Is an alternative of the L3Harris variants that is manufactured by Steiner Optics , and has the designation AN-PEQ-15A. Like the L3Harris variants, the visible and IR aiming lasers on the DBAL-A2 are co-aligned with a single setting adjustment to windage and elevation to move and zero both beams, a soldier can use either the IR or Visible laser to boresight/zero the device to the rifle. The Steiner DBAL-A2 variant
992-550: Is currently fielding the L3Harris Squad Rangefinder (SRF) to supplement squad ( section ) sized elements. The PEQ-15 has a low profile body, and midline offset laser diodes that allow it to be top mounted to a rifle (on to the top of the hand guard or receiver), without obstructing the view of modern optics, or the lasers being obstructed by the front sight posts of the M4, M16 or other AR-15 pattern rifles, whereby
1054-525: Is less susceptible to malfunctions compared to previous internal piston M4- and M16-style weapons. IAR gunners consider the rifle-grade accuracy to be a significant improvement over the SAW, despite the loss of sustained firing. Due to budget limitations, the Marine Corps is looking at ways to implement the IAR as a multipurpose weapon. Suggestions included use as an automatic rifle and as a designated marksman rifle ,
1116-723: Is more controllable on fully automatic than the M249. Concern of volume of fire loss was made up through training courses developed in December 2010. With the M249 SAW , the idea of suppression was volume of fire and the sound of the machine gun. With the M27 IAR, the idea of suppression shifts to engaging with precision fire, as it has rifle accuracy at long range and fully automatic fire at short range. Shooters transitioned from long-range precision fire at 700 meters to short-to-medium-range suppressive fire at 200 meters (660 ft), both while in
1178-528: Is one of the key improvements of the ATPIAL over the PEQ-2, allowing for use without night vision devices. Because the lasers are co-aligned, the PEQ-15 has a single set of adjustment screws for windage and elevation, when zeroing one laser, it zeros both visible and IR. The addition of the visible laser allows a user to zero the PEQ-15 during the day without personnel needing any night vision/IR vision devices. For
1240-558: Is the Trijicon Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) Squad Day Optic (SDO), officially designated the Sight Unit, SU-258/PVQ [TA11SDO]. It is a 3.5×35 machine gun optic that has a Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR [RM05 RMR]) sight screwed on top for close-quarters engagements under 100 meters. Created for the SAW, the day optic offers slightly less magnification but longer eye relief than
1302-431: Is the high-power variant of the PEQ-15, with a higher output visible laser, and IR Illuminator. The major benefit to the increase in the visible laser power is improved performance in direct sunlight, with six times more output power. The higher power IR illuminator allows users to use the illuminator as pointer being able to reach out to much farther distances. The LA-5C/PEQ; formally, Ultra High Power ATPIAL (LA-5C/PEQ),
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#17327810698901364-746: Is the ultra-high-power variant of the PEQ-15, which carries forward the same high output IR Illuminator and Visible Laser from the HP LA-5B/PEQ, but with the addition of a significantly higher output IR laser. The Ultra High Power variant is in use by the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as part of the SOPMOD Block II accessory kit for SOCOM rifles, replacing the Block I AN/PEQ-2 . The AN/PEQ-15A – DBAL-A2 (Dual Beam Aiming Laser – Advanced-2)
1426-486: The L3Harris Squad Rangefinder (SRF) . The ATPIAL AN/PEQ-15 is a multifunctional laser aiming module that emits both visible and IR laser light for precise weapon aiming and produces IR light with an Illuminator for target/area illumination. The module can be used as a handheld illuminator/pointer or can be mounted to weapons equipped with a MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny Rail) rail mounting system, using
1488-769: The Land Warfare Resources Corporation M6A4 IAR , Patriot Ordnance Factory , and General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products with the CIS Ultimax 100 MK5 (marketed as the GDATP IAR). In December 2009, the H&;K weapon won the competition and entered into a five-month period of final testing. In the summer of 2010, it was formally designated as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. After
1550-590: The M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round with the M27 showed reliability problems from feeding issues from standard magazines, the PMAG 30 GEN M3 Window, which had better reliability with the EPR, was approved for use by Marines in December 2016, so that M27 gunners who receive M855A1 rounds do not face such issues. High capacity magazines of between 50 and 100 rounds are being explored. The M27
1612-567: The Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity conducted further testing at Twentynine Palms , Fort McCoy and Camp Shelby for dust, cold-weather, and hot-weather conditions, respectively, limited fielding of 458 IARs were sent to four infantry battalions, one per each Marine expeditionary force one reserve , and one light armored reconnaissance battalion, all of which deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. In May 2011, Marine General James F. Amos approved
1674-864: The US military , and other countries' ground forces. The expansion of the GWOT through the early 2000s quickly ballooned the defense budget of many nations, leading to an explosion in contracts for new technology being granted by the US government, including, an updated LAM and replacement for the AN/PEQ-2 being one such contract. Since its development the PEQ-15 is still the standard issue LAM for military units worldwide, nearly 20 years later. With hundreds of thousands of PEQ-15s in DoD (Department of Defense) inventory, they have since been adopted by Police and other Law Enforcement units across
1736-407: The procurement process before an official program was begun and a list of required capabilities was created in early 2005. The Infantry Automatic Rifle program began on 14 July 2005, when the Marine Corps sent Requests For Information to arms manufacturers. Characteristics desired in the weapon included portability and maneuverability; similarity in appearance to other rifles in the squad, reducing
1798-405: The 2000s, works on both M4/M16 rifles and M27/M38 rifles. It features a quick-detach mechanism. The USMC hopes to field 30,000 units before fiscal year 2023. As of December 2020, it has already obtained 13,700 units. The M38 Squad Designated Marksman rifle (M38 SDMR) is essentially the same as the M27 IAR and retains its selective fire capabilities. The only difference is that it is fitted with
1860-562: The ACOG Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) on M16s and M4s. The longer relief helps reduce injury risk from recoil . In February 2020, it was announced that Trijicon would deliver approximately 19,000 units of its newer 1-8x28 Variable Combat Optical Gunsight (VCOG) between 2021 and 2023 under the SU-281/PVQ [VCOG 1x8-28] Squad Common Optic (SCO) designation. The SU-281/PVQ is a variable-power magnified day optic that comprises
1922-600: The Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B). Full power L3 Harris ATPIAL IR Lasers are restricted to Law Enforcement and Government customers only and cannot be sold to civilians. Sale and Purchase of IR Laser equipment can only occur at the department, agency, or unit level, and cannot be sold to individual Law Enforcement, Military, Government, or Contractor personnel due to the Class III IR laser and illuminator. The AN/PEQ-15
AN/PEQ-15 - Misplaced Pages Continue
1984-572: The M249 SAW within the infantry and those who advocate that a lighter, more maneuverable, and accurate weapon is sufficient to support offensive operations at the squad level. With the M249 SAW, the doctrine of fire suppression is the sound of continuous fire with rounds landing close to the enemy. While the M249's volume of fire may be greater, it is less accurate. Experienced troops who have dealt with incoming fire are less likely to take cover from incoming rounds if they are not close enough. With an IAR,
2046-628: The M249. In early 2017, Commandant of the Marine Corps General Robert Neller said he wanted to equip every " 0311 " rifleman with an M27 IAR. Because of that, the Marine Corps issued a request in early 2017 for 11,000 M27 IARs from H&K. According to Chris Woodburn, deputy of the Maneuver Branch, Fires and Maneuver Integration at Marine Corps Combat Development Command , "The new order will replace all M4s in every infantry squad with an M27, except for
2108-616: The M27 IAR would be adopted as the standard issue service rifle of the Marine Corps infantry, largely replacing the M4, which would be retained at platoon and company leadership levels. In 2019, it was reported that the last of the M27s would arrive at the Marine Corps inventory and are expected to be in the hands of each infantryman from platoon commander and below by mid-2021. Ultimately, the Marines bought just over 14,000 M27s, Manny Pacheco, spokesman for Marine Corps Systems Command, told Marine Corps Times . While Marine Corps Systems Command
2170-424: The M27. The M27 usually draws ammunition from a standard 30-round STANAG magazine. The improved STANAG magazine with the tan-colored anti-tilt follower is favored over the previous version with the green follower because it can be inserted more easily, and the anti-tilt follower can handle high rates of fully automatic fire with less chance of malfunction. There have been issues with some STANAG magazines sticking in
2232-472: The Marine Corps to be used at the discretion of company commanders. In December 2017, the Marine Corps announced that it would equip every member of an infantry squad with the M27, supplanting the M4 carbine which would be retained at the platoon leadership positions and above. In 1999, a Universal Need Statement was issued for an IAR. Around 2000, the 1st Marine Division’s 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines Regiment conducted initial, limited IAR trials which confirmed
2294-534: The PGF's can filter the laser or emitter into different shapes, including square, triangle, circle, cross, or T-shaped laser pointer; this may be useful for command and control purposes or to differentiate operators aiming point in the field, or during training. The AN/PEQ-15 is operated using a main mode selector dial located on the top of the unit, with 8 options to select (9 on the UHP and HP variants), each mode corresponds to
2356-438: The PMAG. Because the M27 cannot be fed from the widely-used M2 PMAG magazines that M4s or M16 rifles in the squad could take, the Marines banned the polymer PMAG for issue to prevent interchangeability issues. In response, Magpul began the process of arranging verification and official testing for their improved PMAG 30 GEN M3 magazine, which is compatible with both the M27 and M16-series rifles. After Marine Corps testing of
2418-774: The US Marine Corps the PEQ-15 replaced the PEQ-2 on the M16 series service rifles, until the adoption of the H&K M27 IAR saw Corps change to the updated MIPIM AN/PEQ-16. The US Army regular forces are still issued the AN/PEQ-15 and the Ultra High Power LA-5C/PEQ variant remains listed on the SOPMOD phase II kit for SOF (Special Operations Forces). The Australian Army has since moved to the AN/PEQ-16 and
2480-506: The United States, with the PEQ-15 becoming the most widely issued and battle tested laser aiming modules on the market. The successor to the PEQ-15, the AN/PEQ-16 is fast becoming popular among special forces and regular units around the world. The United States Marine Corps has shifted to the PEQ-16 with the change in rifle to H&K M27 IAR , as a standard attachment for all riflemen. The Australian Army has begun replacing their PEQ-15s with
2542-682: The conclusion of the Limited User Evaluation (LUE) and ordered the replacement of the M249 LMG by the M27. Fielding of the approximately 6,500 M27 units was completed by 2013, at a cost of $ 13 million. Each M27 gunner was to be equipped with around 22 30-round magazines of the type currently in use with the M16 and M4 carbine , approximating the combat load of an M249 SAW gunner. The M27 gunner would not be expected to carry all 22 magazines. The individual combat load would be determined at
AN/PEQ-15 - Misplaced Pages Continue
2604-458: The desirability of a light automatic rifle. The key difference between a lighter infantry rifle and a more heavily built automatic rifle is the ability of the latter to maintain sustained continuous fire without stoppages, overheating, or loss of accuracy. Experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan resulted in formal requests for recommendations. The Universal Need Statement spent six years going through
2666-551: The doctrine is that lower volume of fire is needed with better accuracy. Fewer rounds need to be used, and automatic riflemen can remain in combat longer and in more situations. The IAR was initially fielded in December 2010. 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines were deployed to Afghanistan in April 2011 with 84 IARs. Former SAW gunners initially did not like the M27 but appreciated it as time went on. It weighed 9 lb (4 kg) loaded, compared to 22 lb (10 kg) for an M249, which
2728-469: The functions of the PEQ-15 are: All variants of the PEQ-15 including the DBAL-A2 come included with a selection of Pattern Generator Filters (PGFs; also called Optical Instrument Reticles (OIR) by the DBAL-A2) that can be fitted to the units IR Illuminator and laser; in the case of the DBAL-A2 the illuminator and laser are separate from each other, and so different filters can be attached to either emitter;
2790-460: The high-power modes should only be used on live fire ranges at ranges exceeding 220 meters. The single visible laser power output of the standard power PEQ-15 of only 5 mW means the visible laser is only visible during the day of with a range of > 25 m (82 ft) when NOT in direct sunlight. AN/PEQ-15 (tan), NSN: 5855-01-577-7174 | AN/PEQ-15 (black) , NSN: 5855-01-534-5931 The LA-5B/PEQ (formally, High Power ATPIAL (LA-5B/PEQ))
2852-403: The integrated M1913 rail grabber moulded into the body of the unit, eliminating the need for separate mounting hardware. Developed and brought into service in 2003 by Insight Technology , the AN/PEQ-15 was being adopted and issued to replace the PEQ-2. The AN/PEQ-2 was first developed in the early 1990s, also by Insight Technology, and became the first widely issued LAM (laser aiming module), of
2914-467: The lasers and illuminator pass either side of front sight post. The PEQ-15 has a rear-facing control dial, and battery compartment allowing users to control the functions of the PEQ from behind the rifle, and to replace the batteries of the unit without requiring the unit to be removed, potentially disturbing the zero of the lasers. Windage and Elevation are adjusted with low profile screws on the top and sides of
2976-431: The likelihood that the gunner will receive special attention from the enemy; facilitation of the gunner's participation in counterinsurgency operations ; and capability of maintaining a high volume of fire. An initial requirement for a magazine with a minimum capacity of 100 rounds was dropped in favor of the 30-round STANAG magazine because, at the start of testing, available 100-round magazines were unreliable. Caliber
3038-464: The low power settings are to be used, with the safety screw protecting inadvertent activation of the laser at high. The use of high-power settings is only permitted during operations, or in live fire exercises at distances exceeding 220 m (720 ft). All variants of the PEQ-15 are fitted with a blue-anodized safety screw within the mode selector dial, that physically locks out the high-power settings from being selected. The screw can be removed using
3100-401: The magwell, especially when painted or damaged. While a rifleman normally carries seven 30-round magazines, an IAR gunner has to carry up to 16 and may carry as many as 21 due to the requirements of the role and fully automatic rate of fire. The magazine well has a flared opening that aids in magazine insertion. A PMAG 30 GEN M2 magazine cannot be inserted because of the frontal plastic bevel on
3162-483: The prone position. Some gunners in combat have been used as designated marksmen . An M27 gunner with one aimed shot has the effect of three or four automatic shots from the SAW and still has the option of a heavier volume with an accurate grouping . Marines issued with the M27 enjoy its similarities to other M4-style weapons in service. Its gas-operated short-stroke piston action runs cooler and more cleanly, requires less maintenance, has less internal parts wear, and
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#17327810698903224-467: The same rate of fire. In a firefight, squad members carrying extra magazines for the M27 might not always be in a position to supply them to the gunner. Further, the SAW was already a battle-proven weapon. He regarded it as significant that the Army had chosen not to pursue the IAR concept. The notion that the M27 represents a reduction in suppressive fire has spawned considerable debate between proponents of
3286-488: The squad leader." He stated that the change includes infantry training battalions. The timeline for funding was planned for fiscal years 2019 and 2020, with the Corps acquiring some of the rifles in fiscal year 2018. As of August 2017, officials stated that "riflemen are the top priority", but that the M27 "will be in the hands of combat engineers and light armored reconnaissance battalion scouts next." The Corps later issued
3348-518: The standard issue for US Army and the SOPMOD kit, however some military units are moving to the new L3Harris AN/PEQ-16 ; with the United States Marine Corps adopting the PEQ-16 with the adoption of the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle , and even more advanced LAMs being fielded by others, including the Australian Army that began moving to PEQ-16's in 2016 and supplementing infantry squads with
3410-400: The unit level and was expected to vary by unit, based on results of evaluations. Though program officials were aware that switching from the belt-fed M249 would result in a loss of suppressive fire capability, Charles Clark III, of the Marine Corps' Combat Development and Integration Office, cited the substantially increased accuracy of the M27 as a significant factor in the decision to replace
3472-422: The unit. Each adjustment produces a positive click. The adjustment requires tooling to adjust windage/elevation and the low-profile design keeps the adjustment points from catching in the field. The PEQ-15A DBAL-A2 variant has forward facing battery compartment, with the rear of the unit being taken up with two function dials that face the user, with dials for power, and laser selection on each. The main functions of
3534-585: The updated PEQ-16, as the standard LAM to be fitted to the EF-88's extensive picatinny rails. A 'high power' and 'ultra high power' variant of the PEQ-15 was developed with the latter, the UHP LA-5C/PEQ becoming part of the SOPMOD Block II kit for SOF (Special Operations Forces) Weapon systems. SOF have also now begun to move to the L3 Harris NGAL (Next Generation Aiming Laser) in conjunction with
3596-430: Was a significant difference when on five-hour missions. Gunners said it was "two weapons in one", being able to fire single shots accurately out to 800 meters (2,600 ft) and have fully automatic fire. It also blended in with standard M16-style service rifles, making it difficult for enemy forces to identify the machine gunner. The battalion leadership saw the M27 IAR as better at preventing collateral damage , as it
3658-485: Was designed and built as the next generation weapon-mountable IR laser/Illuminator after the AN/PEQ-2 and PEQ-4, and in 2003 it became the battlefield replacement for the AN/PEQ-2A which served US Military Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies for many years. The PEQ-15 is almost half the weight and size of its predecessor with the added functionality of a visible laser. The addition of the co-aligned and slaved visible laser
3720-648: Was offered with two different visible laser wavelengths, with the standard being 635 nm (±3%) Red, and the alternative being the 532 nm Green visible laser. L3Harris Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.133 via cp1102 cp1102, Varnish XID 575638588 Upstream caches: cp1102 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:04:29 GMT M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle The M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle ( IAR )
3782-420: Was optimistic about operational testing, former Marine Commandant General James T. Conway remained skeptical because of the reduction in firepower at the fireteam -level that would result if the M27 was adopted. He felt that, while more accurate, it was unlikely that the M27 could provide fire superiority over the belt-fed M249 SAW. A magazine-fed rifle, requiring frequent reloading, would not be able to sustain
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#17327810698903844-514: Was specified as 5.56×45mm with non-linked ammunition, so as to achieve commonality with existing service rifles. In 2006, contracts were issued to several manufacturers for sample weapons. Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal submitted an IAR variant of the FN SCAR , Heckler & Koch (H&K) submitted an HK416 variant , and Colt Defense submitted two designs. Companies that attempted to compete but were not accepted as finalists for testing included
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