Optics of The Libyan Revolution

By N.R. Jenzen-Jones

Nic Jenzen-Jones has been cataloging the optics used by the Libyan used by both sides during the Libyan Revolution.

Let me just say, off the bat, that whilst I am familiar with a few different types and models of modern combat optics, I am by no means an expert. That said, I have bumped into a few photos from the recent Libyan conflict that have raised an eyebrow, so I though I would collate them here.

This rebel fighter is holding an AK-103 (likely an AK-103-2) with what appears to be a Russian PK-01 series collimating (‘red dot’) weapon sight. It appears to be one of the latest PK-01VS models produced by LEMT, as seen on their website here.

This picture shows a rebel sniper/counter-sniper with an FAL fitted with a commercial hunting scope. Reports have referred to Libyan rebels using Bushnell telescopic sights.

Another photo(bellow) shows a scope that appears to be the same. These look as if they may be Bushnell ‘Banner’ series sights.

This image shows another AK-103, this time fitted with what appears to be an Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG). I’m not sure on the model, and it is also possible that it is a cheap knock-off as there are many of those readily available. There is also an interesting suppressed Beretta, but that is for another post!

The FAL in this picture looks to be fitted with an ELCAN sight, such as the C79 optical sight (AKA ‘Wildcat’ or SpecterOS 3.4x)

Photo taken from this video show what appears to be an Aimpoint-style collimator sight (possibly a CompM3?) or a knock-off attached to the right side Picatinny rail on an FN F2000 assault rifle.

Romanian PSL rifles have seemed to be prevalent in Libya, and most that I have seen have been used in conjunction with I.O.R. (Întreprinderea Optică Română) LPS TIP2 telescopic sights. These 4x magnification sights have a 24mm diametre lens, and are closely modeled on Soviet/Russian PSO-1 sights.

This RPG-7 appears to be fitted with a PGO-7B telescopic sight. This is a Belarusian (previously USSR) produced sight with an illuminated reticle , which comes in three models.

I found this clearer photo of an Elcan SpecterOS 3.4x (AKA C79 or ‘Wildcat’) last night. Again, it is seen mounted on an FN FAL.

This Heckler & Koch G36 (probably a G36V, the export version) assault rifle appears to be fitted with a combined 3x telescopic sight and 1x reflex sight, as generally seen on Bundeswehr-issue G36s. A photosensor automatically adjusts the illumination of the reticle based on the ambient light conditions.

his G36, by comparison, is equipped with an export-standard optical sight – either 1.5x or 3x

Here’s a great shot of the G36′s combined 3x telescopic sight and 1x reflex sight optics taken in Ragdalin, Western Libya.

This Barrett M82A1M is fitted with a Leupold 4.5–14×50 Mark 4 telescopic rifle scope. It also features the Barrett Optical Ranging System, or BORS. This device is an integrated ballistic computer, that couples directly to the elevation knob on the Leupold scope. It compensates for temperature, barometric pressure, and changes in the position of the rifle (tilt and cant).

A number of FN P90 submachine guns have cropped up in Libya, as part of an FN-Libya arms deal in 2009/10. They are fitted with Ring Sights MC-10-80 reflex sights. The NVD-compatible sight features a black ‘daytime’ reticule, and a red ‘T’ shape, lit by a Gaseous Tritium Light Source (GTLS), for night use.

This is a 9P135M-1 launcher for the 9M111 Fagot (AT-4 Spigot) and 9M113 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) series of missiles. So far I’ve only seen 9M111M Faktoriya /Fagot-M (AT-4C Spigot C) missiles in photos from Libya. You can see the 9S451 guidance box in the background, and the 9Sh119 10x optical sight in the foreground. The launcher operates on the Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight (SACLOS) guidance principle.

This photo shows an AK-103-2 (you can read about their appearance in Libya here) fitted with a North Korean copy of the PGO-7 series optical sights, originally intended for use on the RPG-7. You can see some Chosŏn’gŭl – the DPRK term for Hangeul script – characters clearly in this photograph. This is the first photo I’ve seen of such a sight, so any information would be appreciated.

Source: The Rogue Adventurer