PSO-1

NOTE: This article is about PSO-1s in the main ArmA games. For other similarly named articles, you may wish to use the following links instead: For the PSO-1 in Global Mobilization - Cold War Germany, see PSO-1 (Global Mobilization). For the PSO-1 in CSLA Iron Curtain, see PSO-1 (CSLA).

The PSO-1 is a low-powered telescopic sight featured in ArmA: Armed Assault, ArmA 2, and ARMA Reforger.

ArmA: Armed Assault

PSO
Faction	SLA
Type	Telescopic Sight
Magnification	4x
Zeroing range	200 m (fixed)
Variants	None
Games

The PSO is used exclusively by SLA snipers in ArmA: Armed Assault.

Design

The PSO is intended to be used on marksman rifles and 5.45 mm-chambered assault rifles. It is available on three weapon platforms:

• AKS-74 PSO assault rifle (5.45 mm)
• KSVK bullpup anti-materiel rifle* (12.7 mm)
• SVD Dragunov sniper rifle (7.62 mm)

(*) The KSVK uses a modified PSO with larger reticle markings optimised specifically for its 12.7 mm round.

Using a fixed magnification of 4x zoom, the PSO also features a rangefinder designed to assist in estimating the distance of targets at ranges of up to 1,000 metres away.

---

Trivia

• On release, the reticle markings on the PSO were incorrectly displayed and did not match the ballistics trajectory of any calibre. This was eventually fixed in Patch 1.05, which provided all PSO-fitted weapons with reticles ranged for a default zero of 200 metres.

---

Gallery

KSVKs fitted with PSOs.

Reticle on the AKS-74 PSO/SVD Dragunov.

Alternate reticle exclusive to the KSVK.

ArmA 2

PSO-1
Faction	CDF ACR Russian Armed Forces ChDKZ Takistani Army NAPA ION
Type	Telescopic Sight
Magnification	4x
Zeroing range	Variable
Variants	None
Games

The PSO-1 is used by several BLUFOR, REDFOR and INDFOR factions in ArmA 2.

Design

Returning in ArmA 2, the PSO is now mounted onto many more weapon platforms, both old and modern:

• AK-74 assault rifle (5.45 mm)
• AK-107 assault rifle (5.45 mm)
• KSVK bullpup anti-materiel rifle (12.7 mm)
• SVD Dragunov sniper rifle (7.62 mm)
• VSS Vintorez marksman rifle (9 mm)

As in Armed Assault, both PSO variants continue to use fixed magnifications but have different minimum/maximum zeroing ranges depending on the weapon and calibre.

For 5.45 mm and 7.62 mm-chambered firearms, zeroing is possible starting at 100 m up to 1000 m, rising in 100 m increments. 12.7 mm weapons utilise a different PSO designated as the PSO-3, which has a zeroing range that also starts at a minimum of 100 m but have a greater maximum limit of 1200 m instead (similarly rising in 100 m increments/decrements).

Only PSOs intended for the VSS Vintorez 9 mm marksman rifle feature a distinctly unique zeroing range. It begins at 100 m but rises in 50 m increments, with an absolute maximum of a mere 400 m.

The point of impact is still measured at the tip of the uppermost chevron, and is by default accurate against targets located at distances of 300 metres (assuming no adjustments made to the weapon's zeroing and excluding the VSS). Furthermore, both PSO variants now allow the user to aim via the weapon's own ironsights as a backup "mode", increasing flexibility for encounters in close quarters.

---

Trivia

• PSOs are by far the most ubiquitous scope attachments in ArmA 2 with almost every main, non-Western faction using them for at least one or more weapon platforms.
• Following the latest Steam version patches, both the PSO-1/PSO-3 support a backup ironsight mode no matter the weapon.

---

Gallery

PSO-1 reticle used on most weapons.

PSO-3 reticle, exclusive to the KSVK sniper rifle.

Dedicated reticle intended for just the VSS Vintorez marksman rifle/SPW. Note the partially illuminated rangefinder and chevrons.

ARMA Reforger

PSO-1
Faction	Soviet Union FIA
Type	Telescopic Sight
Magnification	4x
Zeroing range	100-1000 m
Variants	None
Games

The PSO-1 is used by both Soviet military forces and FIA guerillas in ARMA Reforger.

Design

Reforger's PSO-1 still has a fixed magnification of 4x. It has a minimum zeroing range that begins at 100 m and goes up to a maximum of 1,000 m.

It can only be fitted onto one weapon platform:

• SVD sniper rifle (7.62 mm)

As before, the reticle on Reforger's PSO-1 includes a stadiametric rangefinder that can be used to measure the distance of an idle target from between 200 metres up to 1,000 metres away. The ten hashes on the horizontal plane are meant to be used for lead estimation for moving targets.

For targets beyond 1,000 metres, the three inverted Vs (chevrons) in the centre can be used as holdover points to accurately aim at targets positioned 1,100 metres, 1,200 metres, and 1,300 metres away.

Additionally, the PSO-1's reticle allows the user to switch between the default black and an illuminated red colour for use at nighttime or low-light conditions.

Note that attaching the PSO-1 onto a weapon will increase its weight by 0.58 kg and volume by 400 cm3.

---

Trivia

• Reforger's PSO-1 and ART II are the first two scope attachments to make use of a Picture-in-Picture (PIP) system to simulate peripheral awareness instead of using a flat 2D texture outline.

---

Gallery

Default scope reticle.

Illuminated scope reticle.

External links

• Wikipedia: PSO-1

See also

Optical sights of comparable role and configuration

• ART II (U.S. counterpart, ARMA Reforger only)

Weapon attachments of ArmA: Armed Assault
Red dot sights	Aimpoint
Riflescopes	ACOG
Sniper scopes	PSO • Sniper
Suppressors	Suppressor

Weapon attachments of ARMA Reforger
Riflescopes	ART II • PSO-1