Two Views & One of a Kind

As a U.S. Army Ranger deployed to Afghanistan a decade ago, Dan Pettry’s average day took him from wide-open terrain into the tight, almost claustrophobic streets of small villages.

This extreme swing in combat environments created a dangerous dilemma that forced troops to choose between a rifle setup better suited for defeating targets that were close in or far out.

“That isn’t ideal, because you never know what the day is going to bring,” said Pettry, now a product manager for Raytheon ELCAN Rifle Sights. “Very often missions don’t turn out how you plan. That’s why having two weapons with two different sights isn’t the best scenario.”

The U.S. military’s Special Operations Command asked industry to help solve this capability gap, and the result was the Specter DR 1-4x, a rugged, dual field of view combat sight that provides both the magnification necessary for long-range targeting and the agility needed for short-range, rapid aiming.

The sight has an easy-to-use lever that allows a shooter to switch instantly from 1x to 4x magnification without having to fine-tune or adjust focus for either setting.

“The Specter sighting system is transformative as a force multiplier,” said Ricky Freeman, vice president of Raytheon ELCAN U.S. Business Development and Sales and a former officer in the U.S. Marines. “It significantly increases individual and small unit effectiveness in close quarters, military operations in urban terrain and long-range engagements.”

The system’s crystal clear optics, durability, reliable performance and extended eye relief make it extremely popular within the special operations community.

While some sighting systems were developed for commercial use and later adapted to military operations, the Specter systems were designed from inception with combat operations as the primary consideration, according to Freeman.

“The quality, durability and performance of our sights in the most hostile environments is above reproach,” said Freeman, noting that 10 years have passed since initial fielding. “The demand for Specter sights remains as strong as ever, and that is a true testament to its effectiveness.”