AN/PAQ-4C

TB-MED 542, Class 1 diode, 830nm wavelength, 1mW power

Manufacturer:	Insight Technology Incorporated
IOC / Release / Fielding Year:	1993
NSN:	5855-01-398-4315
Military Cost:	$400
Manual:	TM 09596C-12&P/1A

The AN/PAQ-4C is the last iteration on the PAQ-4 series of devices, and incorporates lessons learned with Aiming Lights in the decade before Desert Storm, where they were then used by the U.S. Military in limited quantities, generally by squad/team leaders. Usage of the device as well as night vision equipment in general grew in frequency over the years, with the PAQ-4C still in combat use as late as 2006, possibly later.

The device weighs under a pound, and uses standard AA batteries.

Over 20,400 Aiming Lights were produced in 1993-1996 and 40,000 were produced in 1996-1999.

They boast functionality in temperatures from -54C to 71C, can be immersed to 30m, and documentation advertises that the range will exceed the capability of your night vision sight/observation device.

The PAQ-4B and PAQ-4C share the same operators manual, but the Army and Marine Corps have different manual numbers.

Example Contracts:
DAAB07-92-C-K254, DAAB07-98-D-R309

Mounting brackets exist for the M4/M16A2, M16 (Alternate, uses bayonet lug), the M2, M60, M249, and the AT4.

Mounting

Installation

A’s, B’s and C’s

The ‘no suffix’ and ‘A’ versions are vastly different in terms of form factor and mildly different in terms of performance.
These models have a cylinder housing and are harder to find, as well as harder to find mounting parts for.
Turkish produced versions are most common to find on the market.

The B’s and C’s are effectively interchangeable, the main difference being that the B’s light source pulses, and the C’s light source is constant.
It is far more common to see PAQ-4C’s than PAQ-4B’s.
The PAQ-4 ‘no-suffix’ and ‘A’ versions can generally be seen from ~1980-1993, and the PAQ-4B and C from ~1993 onwards, in a variety of conflicts.