I wonder what flashlights are used in the army, police and special forces around the world?
Who manufactures these lights, what are the technical specifications?
Couldn't find information.
SureFire by the US government
Ratnik by Russian government
The whole army and law enforcement?
Despite what Chinese flashlight adverts say about “10,000 Lumens Police tactical military grade flashlight” there isn’t necessarily anything special about what is actually used. It’s all marketing to try and suggest these groups all have the world’s best lights. Some do, but lots get whatever ‘works’ but is mostly cheap - the orignal Fulton light as an example, garbage compared to modern lights. I’d Hazard a guess that the average BLF’er has a brighter light than the average law enforcement/army person.
In the UK lots of police officers seem to have LED Lender lights, I’ve seen a couple of guys with cheap Chinese lights, G700 style things.
Seems to be Dragon Searchlights (UK) are still around and claim they’ve government contracts to supply lights.
Thank you, interesting.
Looked at their site - no technical characteristics.
https://www.civil-defence.co.uk/
The body is apparently plastic
Who uses Surefire today? Is it really the US ARMY etc?
Many law enforcement agencies and militaries, industrial firms, etc. including the US Army. That’s far from the only brand issued by the US military though, Streamlight is another notable one.
Those Zenitco lights are nifty. Found a video overview of them and the way the battery is held in place is pretty unique AFAIK:
There’s really no simple answer. Each US law enforcement agency can issue whatever light or lights that they want and some don’t issue lights at all, leaving it up to each officer to purchase their own. Some agencies have guide lines on which lights can be carried on duty and some do not. And also some officers prefer to purchase their own lights instead of using what is issued (same with the military).
Most common brand for US law enforcement: Streamlight. Some other brands used to lesser extent: Pelican, Surefire and Maglite……really the list is near endless.
US military is similar to law enforcement, in that each unit can issue pretty much what they want to a certain extent, usually anything with a NSN can be ordered. Some units don’t issue lights and individual service members have to buy there own.
Last time I checked, the two most common brands in use by the US Military were Surefire and Maglite, with a few Fulton angle head MX991 lights still in use, some now running LED drop-ins, though they have been largely replaced by Streamlight Sidewinder series helmet lights. There are also nearly endless military lights for special purpose applications.
For law enforcement in my area, most officers carry Streamlight on the belt. As far as weapon lights it’s mostly Streamlight, some Surefire and a couple of Olights I’ve seen. The belt lights are mostly Stingers with some Strions. Most of my local agencies that do issue flashlights issue the rechargeable Stinger in one fashion or another.
If mah taxdollas are buying them flashes I want them U.S.Made. 
On the website of Nitecore Singapore, there is a section showing all the main military branches, police, civil defence, hospitals in Singapore as well as Singapore Airlines “are equipped” with Nitecore flashlights.
I guess one reason is Nitecore’s 5-year warranty, which is very useful.
BTW, do Nitecore products sold on Banggood carry a 5-year warranty? I have never checked, because Nitecore’s price is usually too high for me.
Its not guaranteed that the army, police and others use the “best”.
Often times they will use what they know, who they have contracts with and what has been tested. Its not necessarily cutting edge, its often reliable, outdated and bought in bulk.
That said sometimes they do go for high tech, or officers even at times provide their own. Or its bought by the local precinct instead of sent from the top down.
I can’t speak for elsewhere but here in Edmonton Alberta Canada it’s mostly Pelican 70 and 80 series for police, the fire department has a mix of streamlight and Pelican flashlights.
I have seen the occasional discrepancy but if they are using what’s available to be issued to them, that’s what they get.
I’m unsure of what our military is issued, but I’m guessing that could vary based on department.
Sure, I think you get 50 BG “points” in your “wallet” which you’re free to use only on full-priced items. :smiling_imp:
Email them 4.5 years after you buy it and tell them your problem. I guarantee you they will not even be able to look up the order.
Here in Germany its also different from state to state, the police of lower saxony for example gets issued a LEDLenser P7, while the police of NRW a LedWave PEL 5c mod 2020.
Zoulas, you may be right.
Nitecore doesn’t seem to have any online system to register its flashlights after purchase.
The only one exception that I know is its UMS4 charger, which I have. After scratching off on a sticker, there is a serial number. Keying in the serial number and a Nitecore website in the USA can check to confirm that it is a legitimate charger. I guess there are too many Nitecore chargers in the grey market, selling at over 50% discount. Nitecore does NOT recognise them and will not give any warranty for them. But I don’t know whether checking on the serial number of the charger constitutes a registration of the device.
I note that many flashlights offer a one-year warranty without any registration system after purchase. I guess we just have to keep record of our purchase details, just in case we need major repair on any faulty flashlight. But in most cases, we have to pay for the cost of sending it for repair, either in the USA or in China, will be quite high.
A while back, some mfr (forgot who, but it was a fairly big name) caused a big stink because warranties weren’t being honored, and they (the mfr) made it clear that it applied only to those lights bought from the mfr’s own website (or in the instant case, nitecore.com). Else they were “gray market” and you were on your own.
(Hmm, was it Lumintop?)
(Eh, might’ve been Klarus: KLARUS OFFICIAL DECLARATION .)
Whatever…
If warranty is your top prior, you might want to consider other brands.
One of my buyer told me that he tried to claim warranty for his 2-3yr old model, NC told him they are unable to process his order as the model has been discontinued. End up making a counter offer 50% off(iirc) to purchase current model. [quote=TermsakC] Zoulas, you may be right. Nitecore doesn't seem to have any online system to register its flashlights after purchase. The only one exception that I know is its UMS4 charger, which I have. After scratching off on a sticker, there is a serial number. Keying in the serial number and a Nitecore website in the USA can check to confirm that it is a legitimate charger. I guess there are too many Nitecore chargers in the grey market, selling at over 50% discount. Nitecore does NOT recognise them and will not give any warranty for them. But I don't know whether checking on the serial number of the charger constitutes a registration of the device. I note that many flashlights offer a one-year warranty without any registration system after purchase. I guess we just have to keep record of our purchase details, just in case we need major repair on any faulty flashlight. But in most cases, we have to pay for the cost of sending it for repair, either in the USA or in China, will be quite high. [/quote]