1974
Arne Ekstrand
It all started in 1974 in Malmö, Sweden. Hunter and sport shooter Arne Ekstrand was thinking about how to improve his aiming while shooting. As a technician and inventor, his creative mind started turning and turning...
Celebrating 50 years of performance
In 1975, Aimpoint® introduced the world’s first red dot sight, a groundbreaking invention that forever changed the way people aim. Over the past five decades, we’ve remained true to our core mission: helping shooters hit their targets, faster, more precisely, and with confidence. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we look back on a journey defined by commitment, innovation, and a relentless focus on performance. From the Swedish workshop where it all began to the battlefields, hunting grounds, and shooting ranges of today, AIMPOINT has never wavered in its dedication to quality.
The idea
Not all great inventions begin in a lab. For Aimpoint®, it started in a bathroom. While shaving in a concave mirror, Arne Ekstrand noticed how a light on a shelf behind him remained visible as he moved his head, and he could see it with both eyes open and realized this could be a new way of aiming. He built a prototype using a toilet paper roll, a lens, a diode, and a battery. He later partnered with entrepreneur and fellow shooter Gunnar Sandberg. The two patented the concept and laid the foundation for what would become AIMPOINT.
How a red dot sight works
The following is based on the Aimpoint® COA®, other red dot sights may differ.
1. Inside the sight, there's a small LED (Light Emitting Diode) that produces a red light.
2. This red light is reflected off a curved lens inside the sight.
3. This lens has a special coating that only reflects a narrow-band spectrum of red light. Due to the curvature of the lens, the light beams are reflected parallel to each other. The reflected red light creates the "red dot" that you see when you look through the sight.
4. Thanks to the curvature of the lens and the parallel beams of light, the dot appears to be in the same spot at infinity, regardless of what angle you observe it from.
1975
The first sight: Aimpoint® Electronic
In 1975, AIMPOINT AB was officially founded, and the AIMPOINT Electronic was launched, the world’s first commercial red dot sight. Built for hunters and sport shooters, the Electronic offered a faster, more intuitive aiming method than iron sights, especially for moving game. Three generations followed: G1, G2, and G3. The Electronic quickly became known for its durability and performance, and some units are still in use today.
Spreading the word
Selling a new technology was not easy. During the early years, Aimpoint® relied heavily on personal outreach. Kenneth Mårdklint, AIMPOINT’s first salesman, played a vital role in building trust in the product. He traveled tirelessly to shooting ranges and hunting clubs, demonstrating the sights, servicing them, and gathering feedback from users. His efforts helped the company stay afloat during uncertain times.
The 1980s
By the 1980s, sport shooters had begun to adopt Aimpoint® sights, impressed by their speed and accuracy. With sales growing, innovation continued, and in 1989, AIMPOINT introduced the 3000 series, a red dot sight designed to be lightweight, compact, and durable enough to handle heavy recoil. It quickly gained popularity and was named Optical Product of the Year in both the United States and France. The 3000 series became a bestseller and paved the way for an international breakthrough.
1990
The breakthrough: Military units start using Aimpoint®
The turning point came during the Gulf War. In 1991, a now-famous photo showed General Norman Schwarzkopf visiting Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, accompanied by a protection detail believed to be members of Delta Force. The soldiers carried carbines equipped with AIMPOINT 3000 and 5000 series sights. It was the first time many in the defense world realized that electronic optics could withstand the demands of military operations. Suddenly, AIMPOINT wasn’t just for hunters and competitors, it was battlefield-proven.
In 1992, as a result of growing professional interest and increased performance demands, AIMPOINT moved production in-house to ensure total quality control. A dedicated manufacturing site was established in Gällivare.
1997
Durability wins: First contract with U.S. Army
After extensive testing and years of evaluation, Aimpoint® was awarded a major U.S. military contract in 1997. The company was selected to deliver 80,000 Comp® M sights, which would become the M68 Close Combat Optic (CCO). In 1999, AIMPOINT expanded further by opening a new assembly site for production in Malmö, where the company’s head office is located. From this point forward, red dot sights became standard equipment on military rifles around the world.
Early 2000s
Fire Control System
The creation of Fire Control System (FCS™) began in 2005 with the BR8 prototype. This led to the launch of the FCS 12 in 2012 and the improved FCS 13 in 2017. With the FCS series, Aimpoint® delivers unmatched speed, precision, and confidence to the battlefield, day or night, in any terrain.
2007
Introducing the Micro™ series
Responding to requests from both hunters and professionals, Aimpoint® launched the MICRO series in 2007. These compact, lightweight sights used new diode technology and an advanced controller chip, making them exceptionally energy-efficient. Despite their small size, MICRO sights were extremely rugged, and quickly became a favorite for carbines, shotguns, and hunting rifles.
2018
Acro®: World’s first fully enclosed pistol optic
With the rise of slide-mounted optics, Aimpoint® introduced the ACRO, the first enclosed red dot sight built specifically for handguns. The enclosed design offered superior protection from dirt, moisture, and impact, while delivering the reliability and clarity users expected from an AIMPOINT product. The ACRO set a new standard in pistol optics.
2024
The FCS™ 14
In 2024, the FCS 14 was introduced, the most advanced Fire Control System version to date. Designed for professional users, it combines real-time ballistic calculation, extended range capability, and programmable airburst functionality. The system can be used across multiple platforms, including shoulder-fired weapons and light crew-served systems, making it ideal for both combat and training environments.
With the FCS series, Aimpoint® delivers unmatched speed, precision, and confidence to the battlefield, day or night, in any terrain
2025
COA® and A-cut®: Ultra-compact sight for handguns
During 2025, Aimpoint® launched the COA red dot sight with the new mounting solution A-CUT, in collaboration with GLOCK. The COA is an ultra-compact optic engineered for concealed carry.
Combining minimal size with maximum durability, the COA offers excellent performance for handgun users who demand speed, discretion, and reliability. Built to endure extreme stress, the COA is extensively tested and proven, continuing AIMPOINT’s legacy of innovation and trust.
The future?
Fifty years in, Aimpoint continues to look forward. As new technologies and threats shape the future of shooting and defense, the need for reliable, intuitive optics remains constant.
“Looking ahead, our mission remains clear: to set the benchmark for red dot technology while ensuring the uncompromising reliability that professionals and hunters around the world depend on. Performance from Trust is not just our tagline - it is the foundation of everything we do.”
Stories from 1975 - 2025
See others’ Aimpoint® stories and share your own
Connect with us on our social media channels such as Instagram and Youtube to learn more about what we stand for.
See our products
From red dot sights for hunting and sport shooting to advanced systems for professional use – Aimpoint® delivers uncompromising performance across every application.
