EXPS3™ HWS® Weapon Sight (Night Vision Compatible)

Used by U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)

The EXPS3™ (Holographic Weapon Sight) is designed for close to mid-range engagements. It allows very fast target acquisition and engagement at short ranges while providing aiming capability out to 300 meters. The EXPS3™ HWS® can operate in tandem with Generation I – III+ night vision devices. Operators can see the holographic reticle image with helmet mounted or weapon mounted night vision devices.

The “E” is for “Extreme.” The EXPS3 offers true 2-eyes-open shooting and a 7 mm raised base that still allows for iron sight access. It features easy-to-adjust side buttons and an adjustable, locking, quick-detach lever for easy attachment and removal.

Key Features

• Night Vision Compatible — Twenty daylight settings plus ten dedicated NV settings for Gen I through Gen III+ devices. The holographic reticle drops to a level that produces zero bloom or halo when viewed through an image intensifier tube. EOTech's lens coatings allow exceptional light transmission under night vision — one of the reasons SOCOM selected this sight. Passive system emits no muzzle-side IR signature.
• Quick-Detach Lever Mount — One lever locks the sight to any Picatinny rail. One lever rips it off. No tools, no screws, no thumbwheels. Remove the sight, put it back on, and it returns to zero. This matters when you need to swap optics in the field, clear a malfunction, or transition to magnified glass without wasting time.
• Side-Mounted Buttons — Brightness and power controls are on the left side of the housing instead of the rear. This keeps the buttons fully accessible even when a magnifier is flipped into position directly behind the sight. On rear-button models like the XPS2 or 512, the magnifier can block the controls.
• Lower 1/3 Co-Witness — The 7mm raised QD base positions the reticle above your standard iron sights. Your backup irons are visible in the lower third of the window without cluttering your primary holographic sight picture. This gives you a cleaner heads-up view than absolute co-witness while still keeping iron sights available if the optic goes down.
• Submersible to 33 Feet — Same deep-water rating as the 552. Handles maritime operations, river crossings, driving rain, and anything else you can throw at it. Operates from -40°F to 140°F.
• Single CR123 Battery — Transversely mounted CR123A lithium battery with approximately 1,000 hours of runtime at nominal setting. The transverse mounting isolates battery contacts from recoil forces. Low-battery indicator alerts you before it dies.

Product Details

Q: Why is this the USSOCOM standard? A: The combination of features. Night vision compatibility with zero bloom. QD mount for rapid installation and removal. Side buttons that stay accessible with magnifiers. Lower 1/3 co-witness that keeps iron sights available without cluttering the sight picture. Holographic technology that keeps working if the window gets damaged. Submersible to 33 feet for maritime operations. No other holographic sight packages all of this together.

Q: What makes the EXPS3 different from the XPS3? A: Three things. First, the EXPS3 has a quick-detach lever mount — the XPS3 has a screw clamp. Second, the EXPS3 has side-mounted buttons — the XPS3 has rear buttons. Third, the EXPS3 sits at lower 1/3 co-witness height (7mm raised) — the XPS3 sits at absolute co-witness. Both have night vision compatibility, CR123 battery, and 33-ft submersion. The EXPS3 is the premium version with every feature EOTech offers.

Q: What's the difference between the EXPS3 and the 552? A: Both are night vision compatible and submersible to 33 feet. The EXPS3 is shorter (3.8" vs 5.6"), has a QD mount (vs screw clamp), side buttons (vs rear), lower 1/3 co-witness (vs absolute), and runs on a single CR123 (vs two AAs). The 552 wins on battery life (2,500 hrs vs 1,000 hrs) and AA availability. The EXPS3 wins on size, features, and magnifier compatibility.

Q: Can I use this without night vision? A: Absolutely. The EXPS3 has 20 daylight brightness settings that work perfectly without NVGs. Many shooters choose it for the QD mount, side buttons, and lower 1/3 co-witness alone — the night vision capability is a bonus that future-proofs your setup. If you're certain you'll never use NV, the EXPS2 is the same sight without NV settings at a lower price.

Q: What magnifier pairs best with this? A: The EOTech G33 3x Magnifier was designed specifically for EOTech HWS pairing. The G33 is USSOCOM's selected magnifier. The flip-to-side mount gives you instant 1x/3x transition, and the EXPS3's side buttons remain fully accessible with the G33 in any position.

Q: What does "lower 1/3 co-witness" mean? A: It means the sight sits 7mm higher than absolute co-witness. Your backup iron sights are visible in the bottom third of the sight window instead of directly behind the holographic reticle. The advantage: your primary sight picture is uncluttered by iron sight posts, but your irons are still right there if you need them. Most operators and competitive shooters prefer lower 1/3 over absolute co-witness for this reason.