The Maplight is ABEILLON's latest military reading light, engineered in France for cockpit lighting and control panel lighting in the most demanding environments — naval, aeronautical and armored land vehicles. Built around our signature semi-rigid flexible support, the Maplight delivers precise spatial positioning, mechanical robustness and operator-friendly controls.
Compliant with key military standards (MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G, MIL-STD-1275 D/E, MIL-STD-464C), the Maplight reading light is available in 2 architectures and multiple modular configurations, each illustrated below by an interactive 3D model.
The Maplight AB-ML-07/2024 series is ABEILLON's latest military reading light range, building on more than 15 years of field experience in manufacturing chart-table lamps and control panel lighting solutions for defence applications. Its modular design covers a wide range of functions, mounting interfaces and control logics — while allowing field-replaceable units for simplified maintenance.
Each Maplight combines a last-generation LED module (white 5700°K with optional red, blue or green secondary colour for night-vision-friendly cockpit lighting), an electronic command unit (push-buttons, potentiometer or mechanical filter-crossing dimming), and a semi-rigid flexible gooseneck providing free multi-directional positioning. A Black-out function can be triggered from a master command post to inhibit white lighting and to force coloured lighting during crisis management situations.
The Maplight reading light is built on two general architectures, depending on whether the command unit is mounted near the lamp head or near the control panel mounting interface.
The command unit (BC) and the lamp head (T) are mounted together at the end of the flexible support — both move with the operator's hand. Ideal for free-form cockpit lighting positioning. Total lamp length: 723 mm.
The command unit (BC) is fixed at the control panel mounting interface, only the lamp head (T) is mounted at the tip of the flexible. Total lamp length: 597 mm.
Each card below shows one Maplight configuration in 3D. Rotate the military reading light model with your mouse or finger, and use the "Straight / Bent" toggle at the top-left of each viewer to switch between the initial straight position and a typical in-use bent position of the flexible support.
The Maplight offers five mechanical mounting interfaces to fit any control panel, console or vehicle integration requirement. Contact surfaces between the lamp and the panel must be unpainted and conductive to ensure electrical ground continuity.
Performance data of the Maplight military reading light from technical documentation N°17224 (version 29/05/2026). Custom values are available on request — minimum order quantities depend on the chosen configuration.
| Power & electrical | |
| Client voltage supply | 12 to 33 VDC (28 VDC nominal) |
|---|---|
| Power consumption at 24 V | < 12 W |
| Input over-voltage reverse protection | No |
| Electrical ground continuity | MIL-STD-464 C |
| Voltage spikes & surges | MIL-STD-1275 D · MIL-STD-1275 E |
| Electromagnetic interference (EMI) | MIL-STD-461 G |
| Lighting performance | |
| Light source | LEDs |
| Primary lighting colour | White |
| Secondary lighting colour | Red, Blue or Green |
| White light colour temperature | 5700 °K |
| White light centre luminance (at 500 mm) | 1200 Lux at centre · 250 Lux at 180 mm from centre |
| White light beam angle (FWHM) | 80° (LED) · 35° (lens) |
| Dimming | Electronic or mechanical control |
| Black-out function | Yes (remote command) |
| Mechanical & environmental | |
| Maplight length (standard) | 600 – 750 mm |
| Weight | 1.00 kg max |
| External housing colour | Black |
| Fastening system | 5 mechanical interfaces — IM1 to IM5 |
| Operating temperature range | -40 °C to +85 °C |
| Mechanical shock & random vibration | MIL-STD-810 H |
| Water and dust resistance | MIL-STD-810 H |
| Fire resistance (M0 / M1 / M2 / M3) | M1 |
| Reliability & certifications | |
| Reliability | 20,000 hours |
| Photobiological safety | IEC 62471 — RG2 |
| CE certification | In progress |
| RoHS & REACH | Yes |
| Quality management | ISO 9001:2015 |
| NATO supplier code | F9963 |
| Country of manufacture | France (Emerainville, Île-de-France) |
The Maplight military reading light is deployed across the full spectrum of defence operational environments where reliable, glare-free, MIL-STD-compliant lighting is mission-critical.
Cockpit lighting for military aircraft and helicopters — instrument panels, chart reading, navigation logs. Compact footprint and red (/B/G) secondary colour preserve pilot night vision.
Control panel lighting on fixed and mobile command consoles, requiring adjustable task lighting over extended operator shifts.
Naval command stations, chart rooms and navigation tables on surface vessels and submarines, where EMC compliance and reliability are critical.
Map reading inside armored personnel carriers and command vehicles, with the (/B/G) red mode of the Maplight preserving night vision during operations.
Need a specific Maplight architecture, voltage, control logic or mechanical interface? ABEILLON has been engineering tailored flexible support solutions for the defence industry for over 70 years, in France and internationally. Contact our engineering team to discuss your cockpit lighting or control panel lighting integration requirements.
(/B/G) = (/Blue/Green)
Tell us about your cockpit lighting or control panel lighting project — our engineering team will deliver a tailored proposal within 48 working hours.
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