Colt Optics LP5X-P: NATO-Proven Aiming Laser Hits the US Market

Colt Optics announced the LP5X-P laser aiming device on June 30, 2026, marking the brand's entry into weapon-mounted aiming lasers. The LP5X-P is not a ground-up Colt design. It is a US-market adaptation of the Brolis LP5X, a Lithuanian-developed platform already standardized across NATO forces. Colt Optics partnered with Brolis Defense to deliver the proven system to US military and law enforcement customers, with ergonomic and output modifications requested by American operators.

The LP5X-P lands in a laser market dominated by established names like L3Harris (PEQ-15, NGAL), B.E. Meyers (MAWL), and Steiner (DBAL series). Colt Optics is not trying to out-spec the top of that field on raw output numbers. The argument is integration: put four co-aligned lasers, an adjustable BUIS, and an IP68-rated housing into a package that weighs 5.9 ounces and fits on any MIL-STD-1913 rail. The result is a general-issue laser that a unit can standardize across rifle, carbine, and crew-served platforms without adding different zeroing procedures or separate illuminators per weapon. For pistol-mounted laser options designed for civilian carry, see our best pistol lights guide.

Brolis Defense, headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania, launched the LP5X aiming laser in 2023. Since then the platform has been adopted by the Lithuanian Armed Forces, the Danish Army, the Finnish Defence Forces, and over 20 additional NATO and allied nations. Total fielded units exceed 40,000. Brolis has published multiple contract announcements including a major order to equip the Finnish Defence Forces in February 2025 and a contract with the Danish Army in December 2025. The Lithuanian Armed Forces alone received their first batch under a $17.7 million night-combat device procurement.

That installed base matters for the LP5X-P's credibility. Colt Optics did not need to build a reputation from zero. The LP5X has been carried on operations, run through NATO validation cycles, and fielded at a scale that generates real reliability data. The Colt LP5X-P carries that pedigree into the US market. Brolis describes the LP5X as an ITAR-free platform, which matters for international allied sales where US export controls can slow procurement timelines. The Colt LP5X-P, as a US-distributed variant, falls under ITAR/EAR controls. For a deeper look at how military laser contracts shape the commercial accessory market, see our best weapon lights guide.

The LP5X-P's defining feature is its co-aligned four-emitter architecture. Every laser and illuminator in the unit is factory-aligned to the same point of impact. Zero the visible green laser and the IR pointer, the IR illuminator, and the VCSEL flood are all on target simultaneously. There is no need to independently zero the IR pointer after zeroing the visible, no shift between the illuminator and the flood, and no re-confirmation required after switching modes. The visible and IR aiming pointers are positioned directly over the bore line to minimize offset between point of aim and point of impact at close range.

The four emitters break down as follows: a green visible aiming laser, an infrared aiming laser, a focusable infrared illuminator, and a speckle-free VCSEL infrared flood illuminator. The illuminator system automatically transitions between the focused IR illuminator and the VCSEL flood as the user adjusts beam divergence. Narrow the beam and you get a focused IR illuminator for long-range identification under night vision. Widen it and the system automatically engages the VCSEL flood for broad, speckle-free illumination optimized for close-range situational awareness.

The unit runs three output modes (Training, Low, High) selected by a dedicated power switch that is independent from the function selector. That independence means an operator can set the power level once and switch between emitter modes without accidentally bumping output. The activation button is oversized for positive operation with gloved hands. An integrated adjustable flip-up mechanical back-up iron sight is built directly into the housing, providing an instant aiming reference without adding rail-mounted BUIS that would consume additional rail slots. For comparison with other weapon-mounted aiming systems, browse the laser catalog.

The Brolis LP5X is the baseline. The Colt LP5X-P is the US-adapted variant with changes driven by American operator feedback. The visible green laser steps up to 26 mW, a meaningful increase over the standard NATO LP5X output, designed to maintain a visible aiming point under extreme bright conditions where lower-output lasers wash out. The divergence adjustment knob was reworked for gloved-hand manipulation, a change that sounds minor but directly affects how fast and confidently an operator can transition between a focused IR illuminator for target identification and a VCSEL flood for room entry. A control you have to fight with gloves on is a control you will not use under stress.

Colt kept the platform's core strengths intact. The four-emitter co-aligned architecture, the integrated BUIS, the IP68 polymer housing, the single-CR123A power system, and the dual rail-locking bar clamp all carry over from the NATO LP5X. The weight stayed at 168 grams (5.9 ounces), and the length at 3.7 inches. These are not cosmetic improvements. Colt's Chief Operating Officer Dennis Finnegan framed it directly: the LP5X-P was designed around delivering maximum capability in the smallest package possible, without adding unnecessary size, weight, or complexity. For optics that can pair with a laser aiming system on a service rifle, our best red dot sights guide covers current options.

The LP5X-P is restricted to military and law enforcement agency sales only. Colt Optics states on the product page that documentation may be required to verify and approve sales authorization, and the unit is controlled under Export Administration Regulations (EAR) or International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). It is not a commercial or civilian product. There is no eye-safe commercial variant, no reduced-output version, and no individual officer purchase program announced at launch.

This restriction is not unique to Colt. Full-power laser aiming devices with IR illuminators and high-output visible lasers have been restricted items across every manufacturer in the space. L3Harris PEQ-15 units, B.E. Meyers MAWL-C1+ and MAWL-DA, and Steiner DBAL-A4 units are all sold through similar Mil/LE channels. The difference is that some manufacturers offer reduced-power commercial variants under a different SKU. Colt Optics has not announced one. For civilians and agencies evaluating weapon-mounted illumination options that are commercially available, our best weapon lights guide covers the current field.

The LP5X-P is available through authorized Colt Optics resellers. The company's website includes a Find a Reseller tool at coltoptics.com/find-a-reseller for agencies seeking procurement contacts.

The Colt Optics LP5X-P is a low-risk bet on a proven platform. Colt did not design a new laser. It partnered with Brolis Defense to bring a system that already has 40,000 units in NATO service and 20-country adoption into US procurement channels. The LP5X-P adds the output and ergonomic tweaks American operators asked for without reinventing the core architecture: four co-aligned emitters, a built-in BUIS, a single battery, and an IP68-rated housing that weighs 5.9 ounces. For an agency looking to standardize a general-issue laser across carbines and crew-served platforms, those numbers are directly competitive with the PEQ-15 and DBAL families.

The restriction to Mil/LE agency sales only means the LP5X-P will not appear in a gun store display case or a consumer shopping guide. It competes on procurement contracts, not retail shelves. For agencies that are already standardized on Brolis LP5X units through NATO channels, the Colt LP5X-P offers a US-sourced variant with compatible training and logistics. For agencies evaluating their first full-power laser aiming device procurement, the LP5X-P enters a competitive field with a NATO pedigree and a $2,799 MSRP. Interested agencies should contact Colt Optics through coltoptics.com/find-a-reseller or their authorized reseller network. For the latest on Colt Optics' broader product line, see our coverage of the MRS-1, CSQ-1, and C3X-1 red dot launch.