Extensive Testing Proves Improved Accuracy for Snipers

Following a test programme last year that lasted several months, the French Army has ordered an unspecified quantity of FN Herstal’s Elity ballistic calculators, which it will deploy with its snipers and designated marksmen, the company announced on 7 February.

Testing by the Battle-Lab Terre (BLT) enabled operational shooters to successfully test and evaluate the device on various weapon platforms: 12.7mm rifles and 7.62mm sniper/precision rifles (PGM and FN SCAR-H PR). Most importantly, it demonstrated how Elity considerably improves the shooter’s performance, reduces ‘detection-neutralisation’ time by 40%, and shooting accuracy by 25%. It also lightens by 6kg a sniper’s equipment load. “This first project for innovation conducted with the company FN Herstal went particularly well, mostly due to the excellent collaboration between the Battle-Lab Terre and the Belgian manufacturer. It ends well, since it demonstrates the effectiveness of the system and leads to the acquisition of a first batch that benefits French forces. It thus opens the door to further acquisitions for full-service capacity, the terms and timing of which are yet to be defined, and to other collaborations with FN Herstal,” explained Tanguy de Brosse, in charge of the project at the BLT.