Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
29 March 2011
By: Sal Palma (Follow me on Twitter) (FOG HORN BLOG)
Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, d.b.a. Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.
FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication
However, Streamlight made changes to the VIR that I hope will make their way to the
rest of the TLR weapon mounted lights.
Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, d.b.a. Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.
FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication
The IR illumination was equally impressive; the emitter used in Streamlight’s VIR is a real
flamethrower.
Surefire’s IR handheld on the left and Streamlight's TLR-VIR™ IR illuminator on the right.
All of my IR testing is done with an early Gen 2 NVD – no budget for the AN PVS‐14 –,
but works fairly well for my purposes; however, it is susceptible to whiting; much more
so than current I2 technology.
While running the IR portion of the eval, the VIR’s illuminator blew my night optic right
out of the water. So, when I say the IR illuminator is a flamethrower, I speak from
experience, and as you can see had I kept the weapon pointed at the surface much
longer it probably would have melted a hole through the wall.
Outdoors, in heavy overcast and using the same Gen 2 device, the VIR’s illuminator
projected a nicely focused beam visible out to 93 meters. I was able to pick up details in
the tree line that I would have otherwise missed using the night optic without a light
source. I was very impressed, and it absolutely trumps the IR illuminator on the AN PVS‐
14, which has a documented effectiveness of 3 meters.
I tried, as closely as possible, to simulate CQC engagements using only the IR illuminator,
and other than the whiting inherent with the Gen 2 equipment, I was able to clearly see
all corners of the room and any relevant details in those corners; facial recognition
would not have been a problem.
Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, d.b.a. Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.
FOG HORN a Twobirds Flying Publication
In close quarters, the IR illuminator throws such a tight beam that it can easily be used
as an aiming tool in lieu of an IR laser.
Using the toggle switch supplied, transitioning to visible light was a piece of cake –
although hard on my night adapted eyes, ouch.
Finally, if you have three to four inches of rail available, this light will mount securely on
any platform. Throughout my testing I used the VIR interchangeably, on a long gun and
a handgun, with equal success.
With this level of flexibility, it’s not hard to see why the U.S. Army gave Streamlight a $4
million order for the TLR ‐VIR™ last year.
CEO Ray Sharrah and his team have done a tremendous job of producing and delivering
a combat ready weapon mounted light that is both durable, and extremely flexible. If
you’re in the market for IR illumination that won’t break your department’s budget, I
invite you to look very closely at Streamlight’s TLR‐VIR™. It is one heck of light.
Now, if they could only bring to market a TLR‐VIR™ that includes an IR laser. Hum,
maybe they will and call it the TLR‐VIR 2.
‐SP
Copyright 2011, Sal Palma, d.b.a. Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved.