Austrian Army's new Sturmgewehr 77 Nightfighter assault rifle to reduce detection by enemy night vision devices.

On April 10, 2025, the Austrian Ministry of Defense officially delivered the first units of the Sturmgewehr 77 A1 MOD Nightfighter assault rifle to the 3rd Jäger Brigade during a ceremony held at the Raab barracks in Mautern. This delivery marked the initial implementation phase of a wider modernization effort involving Austria’s standard assault rifle, with modifications optimized specifically for night combat. The program includes the parallel distribution of 4,000 night vision goggles produced by the company Theon. The total cost of the investment amounts to €70.7 million, with €10.7 million allocated to the rifle modifications alone.
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The Sturmgewehr 77 A1 MOD Nightfighter assault rifle’s external finish has been treated with a new coating to reduce its detectability by infrared night vision systems. (Picture source: Austrian MoD)

The 3rd Jäger Brigade, which includes the Jägerbataillon 17 stationed in Straß in southern Styria, is the first formation to receive the upgraded rifles and night vision systems. These weapons will also be issued to all four land brigades of the Bundesheer, the Guard unit, Jägerbataillon 8 based in Salzburg, the Heerestruppenschule, and the Theresianische Militärakademie in Wiener Neustadt. Each of these organizations will receive a portion of the 4,000 new rifles and 4,000 night vision goggles being distributed as part of this phase. Over the next two years, a total of 14,400 modified rifles are scheduled to be delivered to both the cadre presence and militia units.

The Sturmgewehr 77 A1 MOD Nightfighter is a modified version of the Austrian Army’s standard-issue Steyr AUG-based rifle, originally adopted in 1977 under the designation StG 77. The Nightfighter version incorporates new components that increase its operational utility under night-time conditions. The rifle is equipped with two optical systems: an Aimpoint Micro T2 red dot sight with twelve brightness settings—four of which are compatible with night vision devices—designed for engagements up to 200 meters, and a 3× magnifying scope installed below the red dot, extending effective targeting out to 400 meters. The optics are mounted on an upgraded receiver with a Picatinny rail system.

Further modifications include a length-adjustable folding vertical foregrip, featuring an integrated recess to accommodate the cable switch of the Rheinmetall laser light module (LLM), which is mounted on the weapon’s right side. The rifle also includes a brass deflector located behind the ejection port to allow left-shoulder firing, a bolt catch, and a length-adjustable carrying sling that can be mounted at various positions. The rifle’s external finish has been treated with a new coating to reduce its detectability by infrared night vision systems.

The 3D night vision goggles supplied by Theon are intended to supplement the modified rifles, forming complete night combat equipment sets. These goggles are expected to increase the reconnaissance and target acquisition capabilities of the units. The goggles are being distributed in the same quantities and to the same units as the rifles, as part of a coordinated procurement. According to the Ministry of Defense, this combined upgrade of optical and firearm systems is designed to support the Bundesheer’s operational objectives in low-visibility environments.

Each of the named Austrian units will receive a portion of the 4,000 new rifles and 4,000 night vision goggles being distributed as part of this phase. (Picture source: Austrian MoD)

The standard Sturmgewehr 77 platform is a bullpup-configured, gas-operated rifle chambered for the 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridge. It has been in Austrian service since 1977 and is manufactured by Steyr Arms (formerly Steyr Mannlicher). The rifle operates with a rotating bolt and includes interchangeable assemblies for modular reconfiguration. The Nightfighter retains compatibility with the platform’s standard 30- and 42-round magazines and has a theoretical firing rate of approximately 700 rounds per minute with a muzzle velocity of 990 meters per second. The base weight of the rifle is approximately 3.75 kilograms.

The Nightfighter program builds on previous upgrades to the StG 77 system. Earlier enhancements include the StG 77 A1 MP variant used by military police and the A2 Kommando variant adopted by Austrian special forces. These earlier versions introduced modular optics, STANAG-compatible rail systems, and different flash hiders, but lacked the full integration of night-focused modifications introduced with the Nightfighter. The upgraded weapons continue to feed from proprietary AUG-style translucent magazines and remain chambered for standard NATO ammunition.

Responsibility for the implementation of the current modification effort lies with the Army Logistics Center in Klagenfurt, in coordination with the technical staff and weapon specialists of the operational units. The industrial work is being carried out by Steyr Arms in Austria, with the optic systems provided by Theon. The program is structured to ensure phased rollout and long-term maintainability of the systems within the Austrian Army’s supply and logistics framework.

According to publicly available technical documentation, the base Steyr AUG system includes a quick-change barrel mechanism, polymer construction, and modular components such as optics, stock types, and fire control groups. The system allows adaptation to various roles including rifle, carbine, light machine gun, and submachine gun. The design supports ambidextrous operation through modular bolt and deflector configurations. The “Nightfighter” version maintains this base flexibility while integrating new combat optics and coatings specific to its night warfare role.

The Sturmgewehr 77 platform is also used in modified forms by the Austrian military police, the special forces unit Jagdkommando, and is employed by EKO Cobra within the Ministry of the Interior. Previous procurement data shows that the A1 MOD rifles have been in the process of gradual upgrade since 2023, when the first modified weapons were handed over during a separate ceremony at the Maria-Theresien barracks in Vienna. These earlier rifles featured modular optics and accessory rails but lacked some of the night-optimized elements now standard in the Nightfighter model, such as the revised IR coating and dual-optic setup.

The Sturmgewehr 77 A1 MOD Nightfighter is a modified version of the Austrian Army’s standard-issue Steyr AUG-based rifle, originally adopted in 1977 under the designation StG 77. (Picture source: Austrian MoD)