FAMILY OF WEAPON SIGHTS (FWS)

The Family of Weapon Sights (FWS) program is a key Army modernization initiative under budget line item 0177K22001, supporting the Soldier Lethality priority. The primary objective of this procurement line is to equip close combat forces with advanced weapon-mounted sighting systems that enhance target acquisition, engagement, and situational awareness under a wide range of operational conditions, including day/night, obscurants, no-light, and adverse weather. The FWS program leverages advancements in thermal and low-light sensor technology to improve performance while reducing size, weight, and power consumption. This directly supports the Army's goals for increased lethality and survivability of dismounted soldiers.

FWS-Individual (FWS-I) is the largest component of the program, with an Army Acquisition Objective (AAO) of 111,642 units (pending final approval). FWS-I is a weapon-mounted thermal sensor designed to enable soldiers to fire accurately and quickly from any carry position, with reduced exposure to enemy fire. This is achieved by providing a wireless, zeroed weapon aimpoint that is displayed in the soldier's Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B) or Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS). FWS-I is procured to support the Army's Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team initiatives and aligns with the Next Generation Squad Weapons program. Production is awarded to vendors DRS Network & Imaging Systems and Teledyne FLIR.

FWS-Sniper (FWS-S) is another critical variant, with an AAO of 3,667 units. FWS-S is designed to mount in-line with a sniper's day optic, providing thermal imagery at the weapon's maximum effective range, plus a 20% overmatch. The system features a large format display with increased pixel density, enabling accurate long-range engagements and exceptional observation capabilities while maintaining the use of the day sight. DRS Network & Imaging Systems is the primary manufacturer. The FWS-S enhances sniper lethality and extends operational effectiveness in complex environments.

FWS-Crew Served (FWS-CS) was previously a part of the FWS family, intended to provide thermal sighting capabilities for crew-served weapons. However, this subprogram was terminated in FY 2024, and no further procurement is planned. Prior investments in FWS-CS are reflected in historical budget data, but current and future funding is focused exclusively on the FWS-I and FWS-S variants.

The FWS program is justified by its direct contribution to the Army's modernization priorities, specifically enhancing day/night situational awareness and lethality for the Close Combat Soldier. The technology enables soldiers to operate more effectively in low-visibility conditions, improves survivability by allowing engagement from covered positions, and integrates with other modernization efforts such as IVAS and Next Generation Squad Weapons. The procurement strategy involves competitive delivery orders between two vendors to ensure cost-effectiveness and timely fielding.

In addition to supporting active Army units, the FWS line item is also necessary for use by reserve components and is authorized for homeland defense, domestic emergency response, and military support to civil authorities, as required by Section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. The program includes funding for initial spares, technical manuals, training materials, and systems engineering to ensure successful fielding and sustainment.