Soldier of Fortune Magazine The Journal of Professional Adventurers
In a world where weapons tech evolves fast and companies fold even faster, hitting the half-century mark is proof you’ve built something that lasts. Aimpoint – the originator and undisputed leader of red dot sighting technology – marks 50 years in 2025.
With the first prototype optic developed by a Swedish hunter in 1974, Aimpoint was formed in 1975 by family-owned Sandberg Development, and has garnered a reputation of extreme durability, reliability, and exclusivity.
From Battlefield to Backcountry
Beginning with a simple goal of improved accuracy and faster target acquisition, Aimpoint sights have set the standard in red dot technology and innovation. Products are subjected to brutal testing, including exposure to extreme heat, cold, physical abuse, and submersion under water. From arctic temperatures to desert sand, the rugged Aimpoint red dot sights stand up to any challenge.
Aimpoint rose to prominence in the United States in 1997, when the company locked in a U.S. Army contract for 100,000 Comp M sights, christened the M68 Close Combat Optic (M68CCO). Since then, more than 2 million red dot optics have been fielded by the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, Aimpoint optics are also trusted by military forces, police agencies, and elite teams around the world.
“This year marks a major milestone for all of Aimpoint and we are only getting started,” says Thane Smith, President of Aimpoint Inc. “As we celebrate throughout 2025, we are reminded of the legacy of innovation and commitment to the highest quality standards for providing optics to support every mission from personal protection to combat zones world-wide.”
From day one, the mission was simple: faster target acquisition, improved accuracy, uncompromising durability. Aimpoint delivered, and in doing so, set the bar every other optic has been judged against. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just gear that works when failure isn’t an option.
Half a century later, Aimpoint still holds the high ground. For military, law enforcement, hunters, and shooters around the globe, the red dot that started it all remains the gold standard. Celebrating the 50th anniversary, Aimpoint honors five decades of precision engineering and steadfast commitment to those who demand the very best.
From the battlefield to backcountry, in competitions to everyday carry, Aimpoint optics have remained the trusted choice for professionals and skilled enthusiasts who refuse to compromise.
Find out more about Aimpoint, here.
