Who We Are.
The extraordinary story of the Lightforce Group is both interesting and inspiring, tracing its origins back over 35 years to the South Australian country town of Cleve. Founded by local dentist Dr. Raymond (Ray) Dennis, Lightforce began when Ray, frustrated by the lack of high-quality and robust spotlights available on the market, decided to build one himself. Initially designed for use on his property to eliminate feral pests, Ray’s spotlight quickly gained popularity among professionals and enthusiasts alike for its powerful performance and affordability. This early success laid the foundation for Lightforce’s rise as a global leader in innovative lighting systems.
As demand grew, so did the company’s product range and manufacturing capabilities. Lightforce now operates sophisticated facilities in Adelaide, South Australia, and Idaho, USA. Trusted on all seven continents, Lightforce exports its award-winning products to more than 50 countries, with a reputation for excellence that spans from the harsh Australian Outback to the freezing Alaskan Tundra.
In 2018, Lightforce made its formal entry into the defence manufacturing sector by launching Force Ordnance, its dedicated defence arm. This division brought together the expertise of five leading Lightforce Group brands—Nightforce Optics, Gunforce, Lightforce Australia, Horus Vision Reticle Systems, and Ace Precision Rifle Systems (APRS).
A standout achievement of Force Ordnance is the development of the Quick Take Down family of Precision rifles, an entirely Australian-designed sniper rifle featuring patented technology that allows users to switch out barrels in seconds without compromising accuracy. This innovation underscores Lightforce’s commitment to enhancing Australia’s sovereign defence capability.
Force Ordnance’s credentials are bolstered by APRS, which has been producing premium rifles in Adelaide for the past 15 years. Using the finest components machined to exacting tolerances, APRS delivers high-quality precision rifles and comprehensive gunsmithing services. The company’s products are rigorously tested at its Hindmarsh facility, where ex-special forces and law enforcement experts guide the design process, ensuring that each product meets the exacting demands of military and law enforcement applications.
In 2022, Lightforce expanded its influence in the defence and law enforcement sectors with a series of significant wins. Domestically, the Australian Defence Force’s trial of Australian Expedition Vehicles featured Lightforce’s infrared and white light combination HTX2 lights, marking the company’s first local defence contract. Additionally, Australian Customs & Border Protection equipped their 41-foot MMI Interceptor boats with Lightforce ML240mm lights, and various state police agencies integrated Lightforce’s infrared Striker lights into their vehicles.
Internationally, Lightforce has partnered with the armed forces of the Philippines and several US defence and police agencies, including the Maryland Police, the US Marshals Service, and the Georgia State Patrol, who all utilize Lightforce’s advanced lighting solutions on their patrol and SWAT vehicles.
In 2023, Lightforce secured one of its most significant Australian defence contracts to date, providing 400 of its world-leading Nightforce precision rifle scopes to the Australian Defence Force as part of the Sniper Systems component of the Land 159 Lethality Systems Project (LAND 159) Tranche 1. This contract will see the Nightforce MIL-SPEC ATACR 7-35x56F1 scope enhance ADF sniper capabilities to meet Five Eyes nation standards, with expected delivery later this year.
As Australia recommits to sovereign defence manufacturing capability, businesses like Lightforce Group are at the forefront, ensuring that home-grown innovation and manufacturing excellence are returned to the hands of Australian service men and women, both at home and abroad.
The beginning
Dr. Ray Dennis is practising in Cleve, South Australia as a dentist. Searching and failing to find a suitable light to use on his property, he decides to build his own.