Rippel Effect producing more IGS-4S sights for Colombia

10 december 2014 by defenceWeb

South African company Rippel Effect Systems has landed another contract for IGS-4S day/night sights for the Colombian Army which has now standardised on this item of equipment from Rippel for all its cavalry requirements.

The company expects to complete installation on the whole Colombian Cascavel armoured combat vehicle fleet during next year.

The IGS-4S was launched as a Rippel product two years ago and the technology is licensed from South African firm Vision 24 Observation Systems. The model selected by Colombia is the IGS-4S compact video sighting system, which can be utilised in conjunction with various vehicle-mounted weapons in calibres ranging from 7.62 mm to 125 mm. The system provides the operator with a 24/7 below-armour observation and ranging capability to fire the weapon in all weather conditions, low visibility and darkness.

Rippel Effect said the IGS-4S accommodates multiple sensors tailored to suit user requirements and weapon choice. As a single system it can be pre-programmed with ballistic aiming marks for any weapon and the various types of ammunition for the selected weapon. IGS-4S has the additional ability to range distance to target. It has a laser rangefinder, day camera, uncooled thermal imaging and multi-function screen, which displays aim points and system parameters, as well as controls for the thermal camera. The system is optimised for installation in small vehicles where space is of prime consideration.

Chief Executive of Rippel Effect, Fritz Visser said there are good prospects for the sight, which is being marketed internationally. Particular focus is on the Cascavel series of armoured vehicles.

The company has developed a video bore sighting device as well as a day/night sight, the VK-RSS-02, that can be used with the secondary weapon on armoured vehicles (such as the 7.62 machine gun on the Cascavel). Both the bore-sight and the VK-RSS-02 integrate seamlessly with the IGS-4S System. The video bore sight makes bore sighting possible by one person from inside the vehicle. The VK-RSS-02 makes it possible to use the secondary weapon from below-armour. The VK-RSS-02 can also be used as hand-held thermal imaging device.

Rippel Effect is known for its series of 40 mm grenade launchers and is focusing on three main products: its new less lethal six-shot multiple grenade launcher RLL37/38 which will be marketed in association with two of the world’s foremost less lethal ammunition manufacturers - Condor of Brazil and ALS of the US; the XRGL40 extended range 40 mm MGL and IGS-4S targeting and sighting system. The XRGL40 can fire low velocity, medium velocity and less lethal ammunition with very low port pressures, including rubber, ball, soft-nose, illuminating and smoke grenades. The 5 kg XRGL40 fires a 220 gram medium velocity projectile to a range of 800 metres, versus 375 metres for low velocity ammunition.

Designed as a true multi-role weapon system, it comes with the GR40 smart multi-velocity sight, which allows the soldier to fire 40 mm ammunition with different ballistic profiles from the same weapon - both 40x46 mm low-velocity and 40x51 mm medium-velocity grenades and also the latest less-lethal rounds.

Rippel Effect started marketing the six shot XRGL40 in 2011/12 and in the last two years has managed to sell the XRGL40 extended range 40mm MGL to eight different countries, the extended range 40mm MGL System is now operational in the Middle East, Latin America and Far East. The XRGL40 is also used in 40 x 51mm extended range ammunition development programs by RDM (South Africa), Diehl BGT Defence (Germany), Energetics Technologies Ltd (UK) and Indumil (Colombia).