Exclusive Hands-On with Steyr’s NEW AUG Nightfighter 77A1 MOD

Steyr has developed a new AUG for the Austrian Army, and there's one problem for American AUG fans: You can't have it. Meet the Steyr AUG Night Fighter, a military configuration featuring a specialized F9 infrared-absorbing coating designed to make the rifle harder to detect under night vision. Unfortunately for American shooters, Steyr says that coating cannot be exported to the United States. James Reeves visits Steyr in Austria for an exclusive walkthrough of the Night Fighter and the evolution of the legendary AUG. We get a look at the Austrian military's latest upgrades, including the modular 3X optic, improved case deflector, redesigned accessory mounting options, and some interesting differences between the standard Austrian Army AUG and the rifles used by its special operations forces. We also discuss the 16-inch versus 20-inch barrel debate, the considerable expense of the F9 coating, and why the Night Fighter looks like a giant green plastic army man. *NOTE:* This interview was filmed in Austria in 2024, but we were only recently cleared to release the footage in October 2026. Support independent firearms coverage on TFBTV by joining us on SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/tfbtv CONTENTS 00:00 The Steyr AUG: From 1977 to Today 03:45 Introducing the AUG Night Fighter 05:39 Austrian Army Upgrades and Accessories 09:16 16-Inch vs. 20-Inch AUG Barrels 10:59 The Cost of the Night Fighter and That Green Finish