Electro-optical sights for light weapons

Light weapon sights are widely equipped in the armed forces of different nations because they could improve the attack accuracy and lethality for the weapons. This paper briefly reviews the operation principles and features of mechanical sight, optical sight, electrooptical sight and integrated sight. The status of mechanical sight, traditional optical sight, lowlightlevel night vision sight, new electrooptical sight and integrated sight equipped in different nations worldwide is given. The development status and parameters of various typical electrooptical sights as well as simple day and night firecontrol systems are described. It is pointed out that mechanical sight and optical sight are still necessary for future light weapons. However, electrooptical sight shall prevail in equipment procurement, and light weapon sight equipped in the future shall be the integrated electrooptical sight.