FLIR Discontinues Riflesight, Various outdoor and Tactical Systems

After  rumors of FLIR discontinuing weapons sights sales to individuals, FLIR released a press message at the Shot Show on 21 January, 2020.

From flir.com:

FLIR is discontinuing certain Outdoor product lines as it further heightens its focus on the professional user. Select handheld product lines will continue to be offered commercially, but remaining products will be further focused toward law enforcement, public safety, and other professional users. FLIR will offer discontinued products through existing channels until inventory is fully depleted, and FLIR will continue to honor qualified warranties for all registered products. For warranty information, visit www.flir.com/support.

FLIR Outdoor thermal handheld products FLIR will continue to sell include:

• Scout family
• Scion series
• LS series
• Breach

FLIR Outdoor products to be discontinued pending inventory depletion:

• All thermal bi-oculars and thermal monoculars except for the products detailed above
• All night vision and thermal riflescopes and clip-on systems
• All night vision multi-purpose systems and goggles
• Laser systems
• All outdoor and tactical accessories

I spoke with Heider Lazzarini at the FLIR booth. He stated this was a decision by the CEO of FLIR. There will be thermal handheld products available to individual sportsmen, as stated in the press release, but not weapons sights.

There are 13 models of weaponsights now available at the FLIR online catalogue.  Prices of the models, from a quick survey of the FLIR website, showed a range from $1,695 for the FLIR T-Maim multi-laser aiming system, to $6,995 for the FLIR CO-XLR-LRF clip-on night vision with high-performance intensifier tubes.

He stated there were at least three or four competitors who offered weapons sights.

FLIR's booth at the Shot Show was impressive, with well done videos of air and land drones being used for various security purposes.

Warfare is entering a new phase, where drones, autonomous and semi-autonomous systems are gaining ever increasing importance. The ability to see in darkness and with various sensors is another area where possession of the capability offers large tactical advantages.

If you wish to obtain one of the FLIR systems to be discontinued, no more will be available after the existing stock is sold.

FLIR will not be selling these sort of systems to individuals in the future. All sales of weaponsights, for example, will be to law enforcement, public safety agencies, and other professional users.

Technological advances are rapid; retail prices are expected to continue to fall over time.  A system that cost $20,000 dollars a decade ago might cost $4,000 today.

Alternate systems to dedicated weapons sights exist. For example, a helmet mounted optic might be used with a red, green, or infrared laser mounted on a rifle, handgun, or shotgun.



©2020 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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