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INDUSTRY INTERVIEW: Leupold Tactical Optics Division
SOTECH 2010 Volume: 8 Issue: 1 (February)
Q: Let’s start with a little background on Leupold and its history.
A: Leupold & Stevens Inc. is a 102 yearold, fifth generation, family-owned company. It was founded in 1907 in Oregon and it has grown to over 600 Oregonbased employees. Leupold has offered precision optics for tactical applications since the 1985 introduction of Ultra riflescopes, which were designed to excel under the most extreme battlefield conditions. To emphasize our commitment to supporting the warfighter, Leupold recently launched its tactical division.
Q: What is your role and how long have you been with Leupold?
A: I joined Leupold in early 2009 when we started laying the groundwork for a formal tactical optics division. Over the years we have built up a world-class engineering, manufacturing, and testing facility at Leupold. Historically, we have primarily focused that capability towards the civilian hunting and shooting market, where we have been very successful.
Today’s war fighting environment is putting new, complex demands on the performance of battlefield optics. We have evolved to meet that requirement. We have been working hard to build the right team to deliver the right products at the right time. We have made tremendous strides to listen to the warfighter and quickly transform their needs into the right optics.
Q: What are Leupold’s primary products?
A: Rifle scopes, spotting scopes, binoculars, rangefinders and flashlights. Our legacy products are rugged and dependable. Their lifetime warranty is based upon heavy-duty construction. They are tested in our state of the art quality assurance labs and then tested extensively in the field before they are shipped. They are in service with militaries around the world.
Our new generation of products takes our optics to the next level: high-zoom ranges, locking turret knobs, .1 mil adjustments, 34mm maintubes, first-focal plane reticles, 3rd generation illumination, and uncompromising optical quality.
Q: What association does Leupold have with the military?
A: There are more long-range Leupold tactical optics in service with the U.S. military today than any other brand. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously. The foundation of that responsibility is listening carefully to the needs of the end-users, the men and women in the trenches. We have built a team of accomplished, combat-experienced military shooters that work closely with the field to understand their needs.
We also have team of design engineers dedicated to the tactical optics division that work closely to transform those needs into product. Once the design is perfected, the design engineers walk downstairs to our 100,000 square foot facility and work with the production team to get the products into the field as quickly as possible. Our state of the art Oracle ERP system ensures a smooth flow of raw materials through the supply chain.
Designing and building the right product is only half the equation. It is critical to hit contract delivery dates and provide life cycle support for the optics. Our factory has the capacity to produce over hundreds of rifle scopes per day, which gives us the capability to surge to meet rapidly changing military requirements. Additionally, our on-site technical support and repair services work around the clock to keep the gear in the field and operating at its peak performance.
Q: What does the future hold for Leupold tactical optics?
A: Our new division has great support from both the Leupold family and the board. The executive team has committed the resources to make the division successful. Our engineers are building the products that are answering the needs of the warfighter.
I think our new wave of products is the best testament to our future potential. We have just announced our 1.1-8x power scope. It is the first on the market and its optical performance and proven durability will provide a capability our operating forces have not seen before. Now, for the first time, a single optic provides a close quarters battle holographic red dot, and as the battle evolves, the scope can range up to 8 power, providing target recognition and shooting accuracy up to 1,000 meters through a variety of reticle options. This sight has a range of applications, from an infantryman’s carbine/ designated marksman rifle to .308 sniper rifles to crew-served weapons.
Our next generation sniper scope, the Mark 4 ER/T, provides a range of features to meet the demanding needs of snipers shooting out to ranges up to 1,500 meters. Locking turret knobs, first-focal plane ranging reticles, 3rd generation illumination, and expansive elevation and windage adjustments lays an impressive foundation for mission success at long ranges under demanding conditions.
Leupold’s tactical optics division is committed to bringing rugged, premium optical products to the battlefield now and into the future. ♦