Defence & Space

Galvion and South 8 Technologies Sign Letter of Intent to Collaborate on Lithium-ion Battery Technology for Extreme Cold Environments

Canadian-based Galvion announced it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with South 8 Technologies, a San Diego–based innovator redefining lithium-ion battery performance…

2025-11-07 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall and ICEYE establish joint venture in Neuss

German-based Rheinmetall AG and Polish-Finnish company ICEYE have completed the establishment of their joint venture, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH, based…

2025-11-07 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Poland Has a Problem: Russian Trolls Are Winning Online

Along with the drones, a wave of fake news and half-truths spread by Russian internet trolls reached Poland. This was no coincidence. Everything…

2025-09-12 | Sławek Zagórski | 5 minutes

Trump Is a Businessman: The Biggest Winner of the War Is American Industry

The latest peace talks were intended to be a step toward ending the largest conflict in Europe since World War II. For now, however,…

2025-08-22 | Sławek Zagórski | 5 minutes

The Remaining Former Dutch F-16s Have Become the Property of Romania

The Romanian Ministry of Defense has reached an agreement with the Ministry of Defense of the Kingdom of the Netherlands…

2025-11-04 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

Rheinmetall Defence Lietuva Begins Construction of New Ammunition Plant in Baisogala, Lithuania

In the Lithuanian town of Baisogala, located in the Šiauliai District, construction has begun on the Lithuanian Ammunition Excellence Center, a German–Lithuanian joint venture…

2025-11-04 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

OCCAR expands ESSOR Capabilities to Achieve Operational Deployment

A4ESSOR and OCCAR sign new procurement contract to advance development of interoperable tactical communications. Procurement contract to carry out the capability deployment…

2025-11-05 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rohde & Schwarz acquires open source intelligence specialist Munich Innovation Labs GmbH

Effective October 31, 2025, Rohde & Schwarz acquired Munich Innovation Labs, a software specialist with headquarters in Munich.

2025-11-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Direct Action at Milipol Paris 2025 – a mission, not a routine

Direct Action invites to Milipol Paris 2025, taking place 18–21 November in Paris. The manufacturer of top-tier tactical equipment will showcase premiere…

2025-11-03 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Practice, Cooperation, Safety – PROTEGA Trade Fair 2025

During the PROTEGA Civil Protection and Civil Defence Fair, the PROTEGA Congress will take place – a two-day forum for knowledge…

2025-11-03 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Galvion and South 8 Technologies Sign Letter of Intent to Collaborate on Lithium-ion Battery Technology for Extreme Cold Environments

Canadian-based Galvion announced it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with South 8 Technologies, a San Diego–based innovator redefining lithium-ion battery performance…

2025-11-07 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall and ICEYE establish joint venture in Neuss

German-based Rheinmetall AG and Polish-Finnish company ICEYE have completed the establishment of their joint venture, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH, based…

2025-11-07 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

MBF Group and Lviv Polytechnic University sign UAV and C-UAS R&D agreement

MBF Group announced the signing of a scientific and technical cooperation agreement with the National University “Lviv Polytechnic”, in the development of…

2025-11-06 | Redakcja | 5 minutes

Polish Military Counterintelligence Investigates Russian Gerbera Drones That Violated Polish Airspace

Experts from the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) and the Prosecutor’s Office are conducting examinations of the Russian drones that entered…

2025-11-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Galvion and South 8 Technologies Sign Letter of Intent to Collaborate on Lithium-ion Battery Technology for Extreme Cold Environments

Canadian-based Galvion announced it has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with South 8 Technologies, a San Diego–based innovator redefining lithium-ion battery performance…

2025-11-07 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Rheinmetall and ICEYE establish joint venture in Neuss

German-based Rheinmetall AG and Polish-Finnish company ICEYE have completed the establishment of their joint venture, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH, based…

2025-11-07 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Polish Military Counterintelligence Investigates Russian Gerbera Drones That Violated Polish Airspace

Experts from the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW) and the Prosecutor’s Office are conducting examinations of the Russian drones that entered…

2025-11-04 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Over 700 Drones and Missiles Launched at Ukraine

Russia carried out another air and missile strike on Ukraine overnight, launching 705 munitions, mostly drones, against eleven regions.

2025-10-30 | Rafał Muczyński | 7 minutes

Rheinmetall and ICEYE establish joint venture in Neuss

German-based Rheinmetall AG and Polish-Finnish company ICEYE have completed the establishment of their joint venture, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH, based…

2025-11-07 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

ICEYE launches Tactical Access, providing guaranteed satellite tasking for time-critical missions

Polish-Finnish company ICEYE, the global leader in Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite operations, announced the launch of Tactical Access, a new commercial…

2025-10-30 | Redakcja | 3 minutes
Shooting

Direct Action: new site, same mission

Direct Action, a renowned manufacturer of professional tactical gear, has launched a new version of its official website. The redesigned layout, improved…

2025-11-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IWA OutdoorClassics 2026: „Made For Trade”

IWA OutdoorClassics, the world’s leading exhibition for the hunting and target shooting industry, will continue to provide targeted responses in 2026 to the…

2025-11-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Mantis Mastermind Course – get to know the program inside out

Mantis is an American manufacturer of dry-fire training solutions, combining specialized firearm adapters with software that enables performance tracking. A new…

2025-10-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Streamlight Wedge SL – the new “ultra-thin” model

Streamlight, a renowned manufacturer of lighting solutions, introduces the Wedge SL handheld flashlight. This model is an ultra-thin, USB-C rechargeable inspection…

2025-10-29 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Direct Action: new site, same mission

Direct Action, a renowned manufacturer of professional tactical gear, has launched a new version of its official website. The redesigned layout, improved…

2025-11-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

UF PRO presents the Hunter FZ Gen.3 jacket

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems Group, is introducing the Hunter FZ Gen.3…

2025-10-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

IWA OutdoorClassics 2026: „Made For Trade”

IWA OutdoorClassics, the world’s leading exhibition for the hunting and target shooting industry, will continue to provide targeted responses in 2026 to the…

2025-11-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Poland: Temporary Ban on Carrying Firearms in Warsaw on November 11, 2025

Minister Marcin Kierwiński has instructed the security services to take measures ensuring safety during the Independence March in Warsaw and other events…

2025-10-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Range Day with Heckler & Koch and Cenzin

Less than a month before the International Defence Industry Exhibition in Kielce, the MILMAG editorial team took part in a presentation of Heckler &…

2025-08-27 | Mariusz Piwowar | 10 minutes

MPS from Fabryka Broni now on sale!

Fabryka Broni Łucznik-Radom, part of the Polish Armaments Group, has announced, as previously promised, the launch of the MPS modular semi-automatic…

2025-08-25 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

Mantis Mastermind Course – get to know the program inside out

Mantis is an American manufacturer of dry-fire training solutions, combining specialized firearm adapters with software that enables performance tracking. A new…

2025-10-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Poland: Temporary Ban on Carrying Firearms in Warsaw on November 11, 2025

Minister Marcin Kierwiński has instructed the security services to take measures ensuring safety during the Independence March in Warsaw and other events…

2025-10-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold a permit, with…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 9 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Upgrading the Classic Glock with a DK ARMS Mounting Plate for a Red Dot Sight

Technology is advancing at a staggering pace. What was a novelty just two, three, or four years ago is now the standard. The same…

2025-09-22 | Karol Szczęśniak | 9 minutes

Wild Little Ones from INFORCE – Review of WILD1 and WILD2 Flashlights

A flashlight on a pistol? That’s already a practical standard and a market expectation. Today, once again, we’ll take a closer look at INFORCE flashlights – this…

2025-08-20 | Mariusz Piwowar | 17 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs of its rifle scopes, binoculars, and monoculars have made them a household name in hunting circles. Yet, despite supplying serious optics for professional hunters, the high-end features and advanced technologies from their premium products flow through to their more affordable equipment designed for the rest of us.

 

In this article, our experts review five of ATNs high-quality, inexpensive rifle scopes that offer outstanding value for budget-conscious hunters, coming in at prices under €1,500.

Night Vision or Thermal Rifle Scope

ATN offers two rifle scope categories, their smart ultra high-definition day/night range and their thermal scopes. Your selection between these categories depends on the conditions prevailing when you hunt.

Day/Night Vision Rifle Scopes

ATNs ultra high-definition day/night scopes provide a dual-purpose capability, allowing you to switch between day and night operations effortlessly. If you’re hunting in dim light or your day spills over into the evening, a day/night rifle scope is perfect for open ground or light foliage. The light intensification technology enhances the image, giving outstanding target recognition packaged in a lightweight and compact rifle scope.

The X-SIGHT range of smart digital day/night vision riflescopes comprises the 4K Pro series and the LTV range. The 4K PRO range is technology heavy and provides an impressive features list, while the LTV is a capable, more budget-friendly rifle scope that offers only essential features.

Thermal Imaging Rifle Scopes

ATNs thermal rifle scopes also offer a day/night capability without relying on available light. The thermal imaging sensor measures the relative heat signature of each object in the field of view. A thermal rifle scope is your preferred choice when hunting takes you to areas of dense foliage and tall grass, or your hunting conditions are affected by heavy overcast, complete darkness, smoke, or dust. Thermal technology helps to locate game that is still or hidden in conditions a day/night scope would struggle to perform.

The MARS range of thermal scopes consists of the MARS 4 series and the LT range. The MARS 4 series boasts an extensive range of technology, while the LT range offers access to thermal technology in a lightweight and wallet-friendly rifle scope designed for short-range hunting.

 

5 Best Affordable ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

The following five models are our experts’ picks of the best affordable rifle scopes from the ATN range under €1,500.

ATN X-SIGHT LTV 5-15X

The X-SIGHT LTV 5-15X is an ultra-lightweight day/night scope with a list price of €769, yet the build quality and features are what you’d expect for a much higher price. The 5-15X provides a 240′ or 5-degree field of view at 1,000 yards. Powered by ATNs Obsidian LT Core processor, you get a high-definition display at 1280 x 720 pixels with the ability to record your through-lens sight picture at the same high definition at 30 frames per second. Built from hardened aluminium alloy and boasting impact-resistant electronics, the 5-15X can be used on high calibre weapons that would damage rifle scopes of lesser quality.

The 5-15X weighs only 780 grams and uses standard 30mm rings for mounting, with a 90mm eye relief. With ultra-low power consumption, you get over 10 hours of continuous use before needing to recharge the internal lithium-ion battery via a USB Type-C charging port. Other features include:

  • An enhanced night vision mode.
  • A one-shot zero capability.
  • Multiple reticle patterns.

Pros

  • Incredible value
  • Low weight
  • Night vision capability
  • Takes up to 64 GB Micro SD card
  • Infra-red illuminator included
  • Weather resistant

Cons

  • No Bluetooth capability
  • No ballistic calculator
  • No rangefinder

ATN X-SIGHT 4K PRO 3-14X

The 4K PRO 3-14X is one of ATNs high-end day/night rifle scopes, yet it still boasts a price of only €899, despite the huge range of technology packaged into some clever features. The 3-14X has a 460′ field of view or 9 degrees at 1,000 yards and uses a 4K ultra-high-definition sensor of 3864 x 2218 pixels. The 4K PRO series of scopes offer a 1080p resolution for video recording with a choice of 30, 60, or 120 feet per second, with a microphone included. In addition to an enhanced day/night mode, you also get Bluetooth capability and WiFi for streaming, viewing, or controlling the scope on an iOS or Android device.

Additional features of the 3-14X include a ballistics calculator, built in range finder, recoil-activated video, and an electronic compass. The battery life is a staggering 18-plus hours. A smart mil-dot reticle is dynamic throughout the magnification range while allowing you to program the variance between the hash marks. There is a wide range of reticle patterns and colors available. Offering the same mount and 90mm eye relief of the LT range, the 3-14X weighs just 1.01 kg despite the impressive package of features and technology.

Pros

  • A ballistic calculator computes environmental conditions, weapon profile, and angle-to-target.
  • Dual stream video to SD card and live streaming simultaneously
  • Recoil activated video
  • Smart Mil Dot reticle
  • Over 18 hours of continuous use

Cons

  • Heavier than the LTV rifle scopes
  • Slightly more expensive than the LTV range

ATN X-SIGHT 4K PRO 5-20X

The 4K PRO 5-20X is another high-end day/night rifle scope from ATN containing all of the features of the 3-14X we’ve just looked at but at the higher variable magnification range for longer ranges or smaller game. Despite being packed with technology, ATN has managed to keep the price down on this rifle scope, with a sticker price of €999. The 5-20X has a 240′ field of view or 5 degrees at 1,000 yards and uses the same Mk 4 sensor at 3864 x 2218 pixels you’ll find in all the 4K PRO rifle scopes.

Maximum continuous use exceeds 18 hours on the internal lithium-ion battery, and like all ATN hunting scopes, the body is hardened aluminium alloy and uses impact-resistant electronics to cope with heavy calibre weapons. All 4K PRO rifle scopes share the same extensive features: Bluetooth capability, ballistic calculator, dual video streaming, smooth zoom, recoil-activated video, and a built in rangefinder. Reticle selection encompasses multiple patterns and colors, and the smart mil-dot feature allows you to easily adjust the hash mark variance. Despite the greater magnification of the 5-20X, the weight of this rifle scope remains at only 1.01 kg.

Pros

  • Powerful Obsidian IV Dual Core processor
  • IR Illuminator included
  • Accepts a snap-on auxiliary ballistic laser for long-range hunting
  • Compatible with the ATN radar feature for situational awareness

Cons

  • 120 feet per second video is only available in day mode
  • Heavier and more expensive than ATNs LTV range of rifle scopes

ATN MARS LT 160 3-6X

The MARS LT 160 3-6X is from ATNs stable of production series lightweight and low-cost thermal scopes designed for close-range hunting. The LT 3-6X price tag is an amazingly low €1,199, considering that thermal technology is still expensive and beyond the reach of most amateur hunters. The sensor has a resolution of 160 x 120 pixels and 17 µm, giving you great detection capability out to 475 meters. Recognition occurs at 240 meters and identification at 160.

You can select between showing either white or black as hot, with a high-definition screen resolution of 1280×720 pixels. ATN designed the 3-6X as the most lightweight of their more affordable thermal rifle scopes, weighing in at 650 grams, making it suitable for platforms where weight is crucial, like cross-bows and air rifles. Yet lightweight doesn’t mean fragile, with the LT 160 3-6X made of hardened aluminium alloy designed to take the impact from heavy calibre weapons. Like all ATN rifle scopes, the 3-6X boasts a one-shot zero feature with a low power consumption to give over 10 hours of continuous use on one battery charge.

Pros

  • Extremely low price for thermal imaging technology
  • Lightweight
  • Perfect for close-range hunting

Cons

  • Lower detection range than the MARS LT 160 4-8X thermal scope

ATN MARS LT 160 4-8X

Think of the MARS LT 160 4-8X as the older sibling of the 3-6X we’ve just reviewed. Offering a greater range of magnification, the 4-8X is one of the best thermal hunting scopes for the money, with a price of just €1,399. The magnification improves detection, recognition, and identification ranges at 625, 315, and 210 meters, respectively. Yet the increased range and magnification haven’t increased the weight, with the 4-8X still only weighing 650 grams.

Like the 3-6X, the LT 160 4-8X offers multiple reticle patterns, over 10 hours of continuous use, and recharging via a USB Type-C connector. Both the LT thermal scopes mount using 30mm standard rings, provide 90mm eye relief, and are weather resistant.

Pros

  • Sub-€1,500 price tag
  • Lightweight for weight-critical platforms
  • Low power consumption

Cons

  • Can’t compete with the ATN MARS LT 320 series rifle scopes for detection ranges

Conclusion

While technological advancements have added previously unthought-of capabilities to modern rifle scopes, such features come at a cost. However, when manufacturers like ATN produce high-end hunting optics, some of the expensive features from those premium products will inevitably flow through to cheaper production rifle scopes. While not as feature-rich as their expensive cousins, the X-SIGHT LTV range of day/night scopes and the MARS LT series of thermal scopes provide best-in-class performance at a price point that puts such technology within reach of us all.

 

The five rifle scopes we’ve reviewed today are, in our opinion, the best rifle scopes for hunting that you can buy for under €1500, including two thermal scopes when thermal imaging technology is usually notoriously expensive. If you’re seeking an affordable rifle scope for close-range with night vision capability, you can’t ignore ATNs X-SIGHT range. However, if your hunting takes you into adverse environmental conditions or where long grass and foliage are common, the MARS LT series of affordable thermal imaging scopes place capable entry-level thermal imaging within your reach.

 

Story sponsored by ATN