"Infil" doesn't necessarily mean slow.

Could be, but isn't always, again, situation dependent.

But it could involve 40+ guys getting into various positions all synchronized for an immediate breach: assault element, support element, reserve element, overwatch, inner and outer cordons, all moving into position.

So you're moving, could be moving fast, you know where you are and where you need to be, and you need to get there on time in order to both provide and take advantage of the mutually supporting positions that are being established. In that last movement, you probably do not have time to be taking a pause to switch from NV to a helmet-mounted thermal or bring a handheld device up to your eyes and do a scan, and when moving over terrain like that, not using binos when you have the ability to use binos in favor of something else is about the worst decision I would think you could make--the improved depth perception and processor speed of being able to use your eyes normally while traversing terrain is, IMHO the. most. valuable. thing in this scenario, more so than your tube specs, more so than "reading light" whatever the hell that means that guys who are rah-rah PVS-14 about talk about, as if you couldn't look under a set of binos.

The addition of fusion in this scenario means you might see something sooner, and it might "pop" more (observe), allowing you to orient, decide, and act faster than the guy without fusion capabilities.

Again, that's just one scenario, and in no way reflects the only way in which the COTI could be useful, it's meant to be an illustrative example of A scenario where the COTI will absolutely blow anything else that's not a fusion system out of the water.

It's also not a scenario that most civilians, or even most law enforcement and military will ever be in, but it is the type of scenario the COTI was designed for.

Here's another consideration that might apply more to civilians and LE as well: all of that, 40+ dudes, well defined and well synchronized, that's rare outside of military organizations (we're probably talking more than one unit on the "X" here, too), and the idea behind all that support, plus probably UAS overhead, CAS and CCA on station, etc., is mutual support, which, when properly executed, means more better security.

The fewer guys, the less security. As has been discussed in other settings, sometimes (again, not always, but sometimes) the answer to less security is more speed (tempo). The popular shorthand has become "speed, surprise, violence of action." In which case, less support = less security = speed more important, makes the capabilities of the COTI in a kinetic environment even more important, and you have even less time to sit around and dick with a helmet-mounted or handheld thermal when you're supposed to be on the move.

As for this being the last time these will be available... eh.

I'd be more concerned about the fact that the manufacturer has discontinued them and won't be able to service them any more. However, something in the order of 700 of these units are being dropped onto the market right now at a great price, and invariably there will be folks who don't take or will never see my advice about what the COTI is and is not, or will disregard it, and buy one looking for or expecting something other than what the COTI is and is capable of, and soon you'll be able to pick them up on the EE for even less.

~Augee

This is a concern that comes up a lot, and being honest, it aint great.

But honestly, onboard battery life has rarely been a practical problem for me, and yes, I've used it when it's so cold out that it immediately shows a low battery indicator warning moments after putting a brand new in package CR123 into it. It's not ideal, but you get used to ignoring the indicator. I have battery packs for both the COTI and E-COTI, and I've gotta say... I pretty much never actually use them.  

Beyond that, I could see it being a concern for guys that are hunting and just meandering for hours looking for signatures to "blip," but for practical purposes, you know when contact is probable versus unlikely. This really applies to all fusion systems and all thermal systems, which are all battery hogs. You're rarely wandering around for hours using the thermal the entire time, unlike night vision, where the power requirements are typically so low (except AA powered duals ) that it makes more sense to leave the device on constantly.

If you're moving slowly and deliberately enough to stop and look through a hand-held thermal device, do that. They're better for it.

There've only been a few times I've flat out killed a COTI battery, but if I'm really needing it, I'm popping in a new battery at the beginning of the night. For those few times I've needed to swap batteries in the field, well, the TNVC Mohawk has a bunch of nifty spare battery loops.





~Augee

Are we talking home-brew fusion weapon sights now?



And before anyone asks, no, there is no advantage to doing this compared to just head-mounting. I did this for fun.



~Augee

There is not a lot of options in FUSION except this, the E coti which Optics1/Safran confirmed without a doubt they will NOT sell to civilians and then the SENVG or something similar coming in at $15K

They have always had just a 1 year warranty. But as I've mentioned numerous times I have two from about 8+ years ago and they continue to work fine.

So a $6K add on fusion set for under $3K and the only civilian available device that allows you to have a FUSION setup under $15K.

From the phone being glued to my ear the last 5 days, I'd say the market loves the idea of this. Another big slew of them went out today of orders that did not need special brackets. As I explained the orders with the special brackets will be just a little while- but of course you won't be charged until it's ready to ship.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XrifuAX6a/





~Augee

A metric Ass ton (technical term) of them shipped today. Tracking emails have been sent for all that shipped today. Looking like another metric Ass ton (MAT) volume going out again tomorrow.
Thanks for your order!

My guess would be the FLIR ADUNS:

https://www.flir.com/products/milsight-s140-d/

There’s a couple of different fusion clip-ons out there in government circles, though.

The ADUNS is one of the few that any open-source information I can link to exists for.



~Augee

They will ship separately (BNVD and COTI). If you had a BNVD bracket with your COTI order that will delay your COTI order as mentioned above as we are waiting on brackets.

If no bracket on the order it might have just went in too late today to ship today. Feel free to shoot me an email tomorrow if you don't see tracking email by mid afternoon.

It's nutty nuggets crazy right now for both businesses  and I have an extended family member fixing to pass away also, but I will continue to respond to emails right away and answer phones 9am to 9pm.
Thanks for your orders!

Already do, hahaha, that photograph’s from last September.



~Augee