On today’s battlefields, every shot counts. Soldiers face situations that demand rapid decision-making, clear visibility, and precision across multiple distances. At Defense & Security Thailand, Meprolight unveiled its new Meprolight Variable Optic (MVO) family, a riflescope line built to give operators the clarity, reliability, and flexibility they need. Designed for both fast engagements and long-range precision, the MVO series reflects how modern infantry optics are evolving to meet increasingly complex operational demands.

Meprolight, long recognized for rugged close- to mid-range sights, thermal overlays, and tritium-based solutions used by the Israel Defense Forces and militaries worldwide, is moving into a more demanding category. The MVO family represents a step into precision variable-power scopes designed for frontline units as well as specialized marksmen. The family consists of three models spanning a full spectrum of tactical requirements. The 1–8×28 serves rapid short- to mid-range combat. The 3–18×44 covers versatile mid-range roles, blending tactical and competition characteristics. The 6–36×56 is built for extreme-range precision. All three share a 34 mm tube, MIL SPEC construction, and waterproofing and fog-proofing validated through full submersion tests. Each scope is rated from minus 40 to plus 70 degrees Celsius and designed to withstand high-recoil calibers.

To understand why the MVO program was launched and the challenges involved, The Defense Circuit spoke with Meprolight Senior Vice President Golan Kalimi. He explained that modern infantry units face threats at much greater distances than in the past, particularly in open or semi-open terrain. “Threats now often emerge from extended ranges,” he said. “Capabilities once reserved for snipers and designated marksmen are increasingly expected of frontline soldiers.” Kalimi described the MVO line as a direct response to that operational gap. “We designed the MVO series to give operators a unified, high-performance suite of optics tailored to every mission profile. It provides the clarity, flexibility, and durability demanded by modern combat, ensuring forces can meet evolving threats with confidence and precision.”

Kalimi also discussed the engineering complexity of variable-power scopes. Multiple lens groups must move with perfect consistency through the zoom range, while the zeroing system must maintain sub-MOA repeatability. “Combining these delicate components with heavy recoil, extreme temperatures, and battlefield shocks required a development approach focused on advanced materials, structural strength, and tight mechanical tolerances,” he said. The MVO optics use German SCHOTT glass and multi-coated lenses with more than 92 percent light transmission, preserving clarity in low light, glare, and mirage-heavy conditions. Reticle illumination is available in red or green with eight brightness settings and full night-vision compatibility.

Kalimi confirmed that the MVO family is already in operational use. Feedback from early users helped improve the mounting system and optimize the illumination controls. These refinements illustrate the company’s commitment to real-world performance rather than relying solely on lab testing. The LPVO and MPVO markets are crowded, but Meprolight emphasizes consistent engineering quality across optical, mechanical, and structural components. Kalimi pointed to repeatable accuracy across the full elevation and windage range, stable internal alignment under recoil, and durability across temperature extremes. Zoom mechanics, focusing elements, and sealing interfaces were refined to ensure reliability through thousands of operational cycles.

The MVO program also fits into the broader strategy of the SK Group, which includes Meprolight and IWI. Both companies identified a global trend: standard infantry rifles increasingly require extended-range capabilities. The MVO family addresses this need while positioning Meprolight for future integration of optics with digital fire-control and sensor systems. Kalimi noted the company’s prior work projecting augmented data and thermal video feeds onto optical sights as a foundation for future variable-power systems that combine mechanical precision with integrated digital information.

With more than 39 million products deployed worldwide, Meprolight is no stranger to battlefield optics. What sets the MVO family apart is its ambition in the precision variable-power segment. The line is designed to deliver the accuracy, reliability, and durability that modern infantry demands while laying the groundwork for deeper integration with digital fire control. As the MVO family reaches more militaries, its real test will be performance in operational environments. If Meprolight’s engineering philosophy and operator-driven refinements hold up in the field, the MVO program could mark the start of a more advanced and globally competitive era for Israel’s optics industry.