U.S. Special Operations forces are using rifle sights that are supposed to help shooters accurately hit their targets but instead have a defect, acknowledged by the manufacturer, that potentially endangers the lives of service members in combat, according to court records and military officials.
The U.S. government is aware of the problem and sued the sight”s maker in November for fraud, accusing the company, L-3 Communications, of covering up a variety of issues with the sight, which has been used by every branch of the military, the FBI, the State Department and local law enforcement.
The company quickly settled for $25.6 million. “A sight that ”almost works” is not acceptable,” said Naval Criminal Investigative Service Director Andrew Traver in a news release the day the settlement was announced.
But more than four months later, the equipment has not been recalled or replaced, say current service members and military officials.
April 7, 2016 | Originally published by Date Line: April 7 on