HENSOLDT Spotter 42 to the Bundeswehr

After delivering the first batch last year, the solution specialist HENSOLDT is now equipping the German Bundeswehr with 90 more Spotter 42 units. The enhanced Spotter complements the Spotter 60 already in use in the troops by HENSOLDT and replaces a predecessor model.

Compared to the Spotter 60, the magnification range of the Spotter 42 starts at six times instead of twenty times. This makes the Spotter 42 optimized for the use of night vision and thermal imaging attachments (NV and IRV). The result is a significant improvement in observation capability in limited visibility conditions.

"The optical performance of the Spotter 42 is outstanding. With its wide field of view, high edge sharpness, and brilliant image quality across the entire magnification range of 6-42x, it represents a milestone in the compact observation optics category," explains responsible Sales Manager Josef Reif.

The observation optics have become more compact due to a modified optical concept. The result is a high magnification range with low initial magnification while reducing weight. The Spotter 42 meets Bundeswehr specifications and features continuously adjustable reticle illumination and an integrated laser filter that compensates for the magnification-induced increase in harmful laser radiation without significantly affecting visual transmission values.

Thanks to the included long mounting rail with a double-sided Picatinny profile, attachment devices of different heights can be used. Additional mounting rails on the device allow for the attachment of various accessories such as target pointers or rangefinders. "The initial feedback from users has been more than positive," adds Josef Reif. By enhancing the ability to observe in limited visibility, the Spotter 42 enhances the night combat capability of snipers and makes a significant contribution to increasing the combat readiness of the German armed forces. The Spotter 42 received very positive feedback from users and procurement officials of military authorities of European nations at EnforceTac 2024 in Nuremberg and is offered as a production device. In a further development stage, it will receive additional functional enhancements in the future that will expand its scope of use.

HENSOLDT online