The Special Operations Peculiar MODification (SOPMOD) kit is an accessory system for the M4A1 carbine,

CQBR The Close Quarter Battle Receiver (CQBR) is a replacement upper receiver for the M4A1 Carbine, developed by the US Navy. The CQBR features a 10.3 in (262 mm) length barrel (similar to the Colt Commando short-barreled M16 variants of the ...

, FN SCAR Mk 16/17,

HK416 The Heckler & Koch HK416 is a gas-operated assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge. It is designed and manufactured by the German company Heckler & Koch. Although the design is based on the AR-15 class of firearm (specific ...

and other weapons used by United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), though it is not specific to SOCOM. The kit allows US Special Operations Forces (US SOF) personnel to configure their weapons to individual preferences and mission requirements. The program dates back to September 1989, when the Special Operations Special Technology (SOST) ''Modular Close Combat Carbine Project'' was founded. This was the first program to standardize components from the 1970s/1980s era of "duct tape and hose clamps". The ''Material Need Statement'' (MNS) was signed in May 1992 and, by September 1993, the ''Operational Requirements Document'' (ORD) for the program was validated. Responsibility for the program was then assigned to the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division. The SOPMOD kit is composed mostly of non-developmental items and

commercial off-the-shelf Commercial off-the-shelf or commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) products are packaged or canned (ready-made) hardware or software, which are adapted aftermarket to the needs of the purchasing organization, rather than the commissioning of ...

(NDI/COTS) accessories packaged together to support four M4A1 carbines. It allows for the attachment of any Picatinny compatible accessory that fits the length of the weapon.

Block I

The original SOPMOD Block I kit included the following: * Knight's Armament Company (KAC) Rail Interface System/Rail Adapter System (RIS/RAS)

forearm The forearm is the region of the upper limb between the elbow and the wrist. The term forearm is used in anatomy to distinguish it from the arm, a word which is most often used to describe the entire appendage of the upper limb, but which in ...

with rail covers of various lengths. *KAC Vertical Foregrip (VFG) *KAC 300m backup iron sights (BUIS) * Trijicon TA01M4A1 4x32mm Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) * Aimpoint ECOS-N (Enhanced Combat Optical Sight-Navy), a variant of the CompM2 using the Wilcox Aimpoint CompM mount instead of the standard issue QRP mount *Tactical Ordnance and Equipment Improved Combat Sling, which allows for secure cross body/patrol carry. *Precision Reflex, Inc. (PRI) M69 Bracket Mount for the

AN/PVS-14 The AN/PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Device (MNVD) is in widespread use by the United States Armed Forces as well as NATO allies around the world. It uses a third generation image intensifier tube, and is primarily manufactured by Litton Industries ...

night vision device. Only two of following were included per kit: *

Insight Insight is the understanding of a specific cause and effect within a particular context. The term insight can have several related meanings: *a piece of information *the act or result of understanding the inner nature of things or of seeing intui ...

AN/PEQ-2 The AN/PEQ-2 Infrared Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Light (ITPIAL) is a laser sight for use on rifles fitted with a Picatinny rail. It was manufactured by Insight Technology. History The AN/PEQ-2 succeeded the AN/PAQ-4C, which was designed i ...

Infrared Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Laser (ITPIAL) *Insight Visible Light Illuminator (VLI) * Trijicon RX01M4A1 1x24 Dual Illuminated Reflex Sight *KAC NT-4 Quick-Detach Sound Suppressor (QDSS) kit Only one of the following was included per kit: * M203A1 Grenade Launcher with a 9-inch barrel * KAC M203 Grenade Launcher Quick Release Front Bracket *Quick-attach M203 Grenade Launcher Leaf Sight *

AN/PEQ-5 The AN/PEQ-5 is a laser sight manufactured by Insight Technology. The sight is mil-spec and projects a visible red dot. The unit is the Carbine Visible Laser or CVL version of the larger AN-PEQ-2, and is found in the SOPMOD Block I kit for use by t ...

Carbine Visible Laser (CVL) *Insight AN/PAQ-4 Infrared Aiming Light * AN/PVS-17A Mini-

Night Vision Night vision is the ability to see in low-light conditions, either naturally with scotopic vision or through a night-vision device. Night vision requires both sufficient spectral range and sufficient intensity range. Humans have poor night v ...

Sight *AN/PSQ-18A M203 Day/Night Sight *Carrying/storage case for kit accessories Part of the SOPMOD Block I (but not always issued with kits): *Gas-deflecting charging handles (presumably the PRI M84 Gas Buster Charging Handle with Military Big Latch) *Extraction Parts Set #2 *Redi-Mag * Lewis Machine and Tool Company (LMT) Sloping Cheekweld Stock *Ambidextrous Selector Switch *Visible Bright Light II (VBL II) (based on the older gen Surefire M962C model, replacement for the Insight VLI) *High Reliability Magazines (HRM) steel and aluminum If more of the accessories are needed, it is typical for units to "

cannibalize Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, bo ...

" the kits of inactive teams. The documentation for the kit does not require a rewrite if improved replacements for any of the current items can be found. As a result, this content list has changed over time. Several potential additions include the KAC Masterkey Shotgun, the M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System, and the M320 grenade launcher. Also, various

EOTech EOTECH is an American company that designs, manufactures, and markets electro-optic and night vision products and systems. The company is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan. They produce holographic weapon sights for small arms that have be ...

holographic sights, prominently EOTech 551s and 552s are used on many SOPMOD configured M4s.

Block I Phased Replacements

* Daniel Defense M4A1 RIS II (Rail Interface System), GL/SSC RIS II (Grenade Launcher/Sound Suppressor Capable), and MK18 RIS II (with FSP (front sight post) variations) free-float handguards *

M3X VBL III Gun Light (SU-233/PVS), replacement for the VBL II *Insight M6X VBL III Integrated Gun Light (SU-238/PVS), replacement for the VBL II *

553 Holographic Weapon Sight (SU-231/PEQ) * Trijicon ACOG TA31ECOS 4x Scope + Docter Miniature Red Dot (MRD) (SU-237/PVS) *

AN/PVS-17 The AN/PVS-17 Miniature Night Sight (MNS) is a compact, lightweight and high performance night vision weapon sight in wide use by the United States Special Forces and United States Marine Corps (USMC). The AN/PVS-17 is a Generation III Night Visio ...

Product Improvement Kit *BUIS II

Block II

The MDNS (Miniature Day-Night Sight) program included the Block I Phased Replacement components and the Block II components * Daniel Defense M4A1 RIS II (Rail Interface System), GL/SSC RIS II (Grenade Launcher/Sound Suppressor Capable), and MK18 RIS II (with FSP (front sight post) variations) free-float handguards *

M3X VBL III Gun Light (SU-233/PVS), replacement for the VBL II *Insight M6X VBL III Integrated Gun Light (SU-238/PVS), replacement for the VBL II *Insight WMX 200 Tactical Weapon Light *

553 Holographic Weapon Sight (SU-231/PEQ) *EOTech EXPS3-0 Holographic Weapon Sight (SU-231A/PEQ) *

Product Improvement Kit *BUIS II *

LA-5/PEQ ATPIAL (Advanced Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Laser), a high powered variant of the AN/PEQ-15 *Insight CNVD-T Thermal Sight (SU-232/PAS) *EOTech M40GL Grenade Launcher Sight (SU-253/PEQ ECOS-GL) * Elcan SpecterDR 1-4x Scope + Docter MRD (SU-230/PVS) * Trijicon ACOG TA31ECOS 4x Scope + Docter MRD (SU-237/PVS) *Insight AN/PVS-24 Clip-On

Night Vision Device A night-vision device (NVD), also known as a night optical/observation device (NOD), night-vision goggle (NVG), is an optoelectronic device that allows visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's night vision. The devi ...

-Image Intensified (CVND-I²) Kandahar province operation 130210-A-KM292-026

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sopmod Rifles of the United States