The FPG-21 has been a hard one to keep a lid on (pardon the pun) but has topped the list of “new products I’m excited about” for a while now, and the background of the mount is almost as interesting as the mount itself. Engineering nerds will be impressed.
As VAS and HMD devices have gotten more capable, they’ve also become heavier, the increased torque and strain on the user’s neck has gotten far worse. The revised stow angle of the Swift Universal FPG-21 mount reduces torque and felt strain from helmet worn devices significantly.
You will also hear people refer to “WARCOM,” or “3-Hole” pattern, and 1, 2, and 4 hole patterns also exist. These refer to the number of holes drilled in the helmet shell to allow the shroud (which the NVG mount attaches to).
1-Hole (Army) and 3-Hole are most common today.
Another common question is what the “L4” in “L4 G24” signifies when referring to Wilcox helmet mounts. L4 indicates the “Universal” mounting pattern originally designed for the AN/PVS-7B helmet mount, while L1-3 referred to proprietary mounting systems. NSW w/ L2, USASOC w/ L3.
As the L1-3 patterns have been discontinued, Wilcox has dropped the “L4” terminology, so the “L4 G24” is now known simply as the G24 helmet or NVG mount.
Norotos also had a proprietary “rock and lock” mounting system also frequently seen during the first half of GWOT.
Equipment also often has a descriptive program name, usually an initialism (acronym) such as AN/PSQ-44 ENVG-B (Enhanced Night Vision Goggle, Binocular) and AN/PAS-35 FWS-I (Family of Weapon Sights, Individual) and AN/PVQ-31B RCO (Rifle Combat Optic).
If you’ve ever wondered what the meaning of the “AN/xyz-” designations often assigned to military systems actually mean, they’re governed by MIL-STD-156, the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS). “AN” refers to “Army/Navy” and a 3-letter descriptive code.
I think it’s funny that my first “low light with night vision” efforts back in 2019 with Amy Wilder and a loaner set of DTNVGs from @tnvcinc is still among my best
Pistol RDS “Transition”: If you’ve got it in your kit bag, NVGs are a great way to train dot transition and presentations because the natural focal plane limitations encourage target-focus and eliminate distractions that lead to “hunting the dot.”
Depending on where you live, darkness is a thing for almost half your day. Learning to work, fight, and thrive in the dark is critical for everyone who holds themselves ready to defend their family, community, and their nation. Get out and train.
@ottegear@tnvcinc#EOTECH #NIGHTMOVES #HWSHOTNESS
@WeaponOutfitter My favorite thing about that era was gun bloggers and internet personalities thinking they were going to bankrupt L3 Technologies by refusing to buy a couple holosights.
Integrated power and data systems are still relatively new, however the capabilities they offer are quickly becoming the bedrock of VAS modernization strategies, but raises a new problem: what the hell am I going to put on my helmet rails now??? 😂