<PAGE>
 
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 25, 1997
                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                           -------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           -------------------------

                        FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

          DELAWARE                                       57-0777018
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                             (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                        IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


                            7340 MCGINNIS FERRY ROAD
                             SUWANEE, GEORGIA 30174
                                 (770) 813-0180
         (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
            AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                          ---------------------------

               FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC. STOCK OPTION PLAN
               -------------------------------------------------
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                               DAVID A. APSELOFF
                        FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.
                            7340 MCGINNIS FERRY ROAD
                             SUWANEE, GEORGIA 30174
                                 (770) 813-0180
      (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
                        AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                           --------------------------
                                WITH A COPY TO:
                                JAMES G. ARCHER
                                SIDLEY & AUSTIN
                                875 THIRD AVENUE
                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10022

        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
     From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION>
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=======================================================================================================
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS                      PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM
 OF SECURITIES TO BE    AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE PER     AGGREGATE OFFERING      AMOUNT OF
     REGISTERED         REGISTERED(1)         SHARE(2)               PRICE(2)         REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                     <C>               <C>                   <C>                  <C> 
Class A                 2,490,000          $14.00               $15,591,889           $4,724.82
Common Stock
($.000006 par value)
=======================================================================================================
</TABLE>

(1)  Issuable upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Firearms
     Trainings Systems, Inc. Stock Option Plan  (the "Plan").
<PAGE>
 
(2) The proposed maximum per share and aggregate offering price, calculated
    solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules
    457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, is based on (a) the
    exercise price of options that have been granted under the Plan on September
    17, 1996 multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock
    underlying such options ($3.253 for 1,742,834 shares), (b) the exercise
    price of options that have been awarded under the Plan to certain employees
    on the dates such employees commenced employment multiplied by the number of
    shares of Class A Common Stock underlying such options ($14.00 for 30,000
    shares) and (c) the remaining number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to
    which options may be granted under the Plan (717,166) multiplied by
    $13.25 the average of the high and low per share price of the Class A
    Common Stock reported by the Nasdaq National Market on February 21, 1997.

                             _____________________

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                                     PART I

     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     ITEM 1.  Plan Information.*

     ITEM 2.  Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*

               *The information required in Part I of Form S-8 is currently
     included in a Prospectus, dated February 25, 1997, which is to be
     distributed to participants in the Firearms Training Systems, Inc. Stock
     Option Plan.

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT 
                   

     ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

               The following documents, which have previously been filed by the
     Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are
     incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

               1.   Prospectus dated November 26, 1996 as filed with the
     Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act.

               2.   The description of the Class A Common Stock of the Company,
     $.000006 par value, set forth in Form 8-A for Registration of Certain
     Classes of Securities Pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), effective as of
     November 25, 1996, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose
     of updating such description.

               3.   Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
     31, 1996.

               In addition, all documents filed by the Company pursuant to
     Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing
     of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates
     that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all
     securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by
     reference in this Registration Statement and made a part hereof from their
     respective dates of filing (such documents, and the documents enumerated
     above, being hereinafter referred to as "Incorporated Documents").

               Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be
     deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration
     Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
     subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such
     statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be
     deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
     Registration Statement.

     ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

               Not applicable.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

               The validity of the shares of Common Stock to be issued in
     connection with this Registration Statement will be passed upon for the
     Company by Sidley & Austin, New York, New York.

               The consolidated financial statements of the Company at March 31,
     1995 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the three-year period
     ended March 31, 1996, appearing in the Company's Prospectus dated November
     26, 1996 which forms a part of the Company's Registration Statement No.
     333-13105 on Form S-1, have been incorporated herein in reliance upon the
     reports of Price Waterhouse LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP, independent
     certified public accountants included therein, and upon the authority of
     said firms as experts in accounting and auditing.

     ITEM 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

               The Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), provides that a
     corporation may limit the liability of each director to the corporation or
     its shareholders for monetary damages except for liability: (i) for any
     breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
     shareholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve
     intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) in respect of
     certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases; and
     (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper
     personal benefit.  The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
     filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto, provides that no director of the Company shall
     be personally liable to the Company or its shareholders for monetary
     damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director except in the
     circumstances specified in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).
     The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of the Company
     and its shareholders (through shareholders' derivative suits on behalf of
     the Company) to recover monetary damages against a director for certain
     breaches of fiduciary duty as a director (including breaches resulting from
     grossly negligent conduct).  This provision in the Restated Certificate of
     Incorporation does not exonerate the directors from liability under federal
     securities laws nor does it limit the availability of non-monetary relief
     in any action or proceeding against a director.  In addition, the Restated
     Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company shall, to the
     fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, indemnify its officers and directors
     against liabilities, costs and expenses as provided by the DGCL.  Insofar
     as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
     permitted to directors, officers or others pursuant to the foregoing
     provisions, the Company has been informed that in the opinion of the
     Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
     the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and is
     therefore unenforceable.

     ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

               Not applicable.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

               The following exhibits are filed with this Registration
               Statement:

               Exhibit
               Number                Description

               4.1   Firearms Training Systems, Inc. Stock Option Plan
                     (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the
                     Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-13105, filed by
                     the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act)

               5     Opinion of Sidley & Austin regarding legality of the Class
                     A Common Stock

               23.1  Consent of Sidley & Austin (Incorporated by reference to
                     Exhibit 5 hereof)

               23.2  Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP
     

               23.3  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

     ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

               The Company hereby undertakes:

               (a)    (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales
     are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                           (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section
                    10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                    arising after the effective date of this Registration
                    Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                    thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
                    a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
                    Registration Statement;

                           (iii) To include any material information with
                    respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
                    in this Registration Statement or any material change to
                    such information in this Registration Statement;

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if
     --------  -------                                                          
     the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
     those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished
     to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
     the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration
     Statement.

               (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.

               (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

           (b) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant to
     Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by
     reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
     registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
     offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
     bona fide offering thereof.

           (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
     Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
     persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
     otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
     Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
     the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
     claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
     by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
     controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
     action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
     controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
     registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
     settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
     jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
     public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
     the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES


               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
     that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly
     caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
     undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Suwanee, State of
     Georgia, on the 25th day of February, 1997.


                                      FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.


                                      By: /s/ Peter A. Marino
                                          -------------------------------------
                                              Peter A. Marino
                                              President and Chief Executive 
                                              Officer

                       POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

               Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
     appoints Peter A. Marino and David A. Apseloff, each of them singly, his
     true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
     substitution and resubstitution in each of them, for him and his name,
     place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
     amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
     Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other
     documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said
     attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
     do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or desirable to be
     done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
     might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
     attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or any of their substitutes may
     lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following
     persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
       Signature                  Title                     Date
       ---------                  -----                     ----

/s/ Peter A. Marino      Chief Executive Officer,        February 25, 1997
-----------------------  President and Director
Peter A. Marino          (Principal Executive Officer)

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
       Signature                     Title                     Date
       ---------                     -----                     ---- 

/s/ David A. Apseloff      Treasurer, Chief Financial      February 25, 1997
----------------------     Officer and Assistant
David A. Apseloff          Secretary (Principal
                           Financial and Accounting
                           Officer)
 
/s/ Lester Pollack         Chairman of the Board and       February 25, 1997
----------------------     Director
Lester Pollack
 
                         
----------------------     Director                        February   , 1997
William J. Bratton
                            
----------------------     Director                        February   , 1997
Craig I. Fields
 
/s/ Jonathan H. Kagan      
----------------------     Director                        February 25, 1997
Jonathan H. Kagan
 
/s/ Scott Perekslis      
----------------------     Director                        February 25, 1997
Scott Perekslis
 
                         
----------------------     Director                        February   , 1997
Bruce G. Pollack

/s/ Paul J. Zepf           
----------------------     Director                        February 25, 1997
Paul J. Zepf

                                      -9-
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 19385}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS INC", "cik": "0001021770", "assigned-sic": "8742", "irs-number": "570777018", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0331"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-22349", "film-number": "97543412"}, "business-address": {"street1": "7340 MCGINNIS FERRY RD", "city": "SUWANEE", "state": "GA", "zip": "30174", "phone": "7708130180"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "7340 MCGINNIS FERRY RD", "city": "SUWANEE", "state": "GA", "zip": "30174"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 25, 1997
                                                           REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

                           -------------------------

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           -------------------------

                        FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

          DELAWARE                                       57-0777018
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION                             (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                        IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

                            7340 MCGINNIS FERRY ROAD
                             SUWANEE, GEORGIA 30174
                                 (770) 813-0180
         (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
            AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                          ---------------------------

               FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC. STOCK OPTION PLAN
               -------------------------------------------------
                            (FULL TITLE OF THE PLAN)

                               DAVID A. APSELOFF
                        FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.
                            7340 MCGINNIS FERRY ROAD
                             SUWANEE, GEORGIA 30174
                                 (770) 813-0180
      (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
                        AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                           --------------------------
                                WITH A COPY TO:
                                JAMES G. ARCHER
                                SIDLEY & AUSTIN
                                875 THIRD AVENUE
                           NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10022

        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
     From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=======================================================================================================
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS                      PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM
 OF SECURITIES TO BE    AMOUNT TO BE     OFFERING PRICE PER     AGGREGATE OFFERING      AMOUNT OF
     REGISTERED         REGISTERED(1)         SHARE(2)               PRICE(2)         REGISTRATION FEE
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A                 2,490,000          $14.00               $15,591,889           $4,724.82
Common Stock
($.000006 par value)
=======================================================================================================
(1)  Issuable upon exercise of options granted pursuant to the Firearms
     Trainings Systems, Inc. Stock Option Plan  (the "Plan").
(2) The proposed maximum per share and aggregate offering price, calculated
    solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rules
    457(c) and (h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, is based on (a) the
    exercise price of options that have been granted under the Plan on September
    17, 1996 multiplied by the number of shares of Class A Common Stock
    underlying such options ($3.253 for 1,742,834 shares), (b) the exercise
    price of options that have been awarded under the Plan to certain employees
    on the dates such employees commenced employment multiplied by the number of
    shares of Class A Common Stock underlying such options ($14.00 for 30,000
    shares) and (c) the remaining number of shares of Class A Common Stock as to
    which options may be granted under the Plan (717,166) multiplied by
    $13.25 the average of the high and low per share price of the Class A
    Common Stock reported by the Nasdaq National Market on February 21, 1997.

                             _____________________

                                      -2-
PART I

     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

     ITEM 1.  Plan Information.*

     ITEM 2.  Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.*

               *The information required in Part I of Form S-8 is currently
     included in a Prospectus, dated February 25, 1997, which is to be
     distributed to participants in the Firearms Training Systems, Inc. Stock
     Option Plan.

                                      -3-
PART II

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT 
                   

     ITEM 3.   INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

               The following documents, which have previously been filed by the
     Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") are
     incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

               1.   Prospectus dated November 26, 1996 as filed with the
     Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act.

               2.   The description of the Class A Common Stock of the Company,
     $.000006 par value, set forth in Form 8-A for Registration of Certain
     Classes of Securities Pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities
     Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), effective as of
     November 25, 1996, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose
     of updating such description.

               3.   Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
     31, 1996.

               In addition, all documents filed by the Company pursuant to
     Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the filing
     of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates
     that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all
     securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by
     reference in this Registration Statement and made a part hereof from their
     respective dates of filing (such documents, and the documents enumerated
     above, being hereinafter referred to as "Incorporated Documents").

               Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be
     deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration
     Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
     subsequently filed Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such
     statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be
     deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
     Registration Statement.

     ITEM 4.   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

               Not applicable.

                                      -4-
ITEM 5.   INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

               The validity of the shares of Common Stock to be issued in
     connection with this Registration Statement will be passed upon for the
     Company by Sidley & Austin, New York, New York.

               The consolidated financial statements of the Company at March 31,
     1995 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the three-year period
     ended March 31, 1996, appearing in the Company's Prospectus dated November
     26, 1996 which forms a part of the Company's Registration Statement No.
     333-13105 on Form S-1, have been incorporated herein in reliance upon the
     reports of Price Waterhouse LLP and Arthur Andersen LLP, independent
     certified public accountants included therein, and upon the authority of
     said firms as experts in accounting and auditing.

     ITEM 6.   INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

               The Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), provides that a
     corporation may limit the liability of each director to the corporation or
     its shareholders for monetary damages except for liability: (i) for any
     breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
     shareholders; (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve
     intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) in respect of
     certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases; and
     (iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper
     personal benefit.  The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
     filed as Exhibit 3.1 hereto, provides that no director of the Company shall
     be personally liable to the Company or its shareholders for monetary
     damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director except in the
     circumstances specified in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv).
     The effect of these provisions is to eliminate the rights of the Company
     and its shareholders (through shareholders' derivative suits on behalf of
     the Company) to recover monetary damages against a director for certain
     breaches of fiduciary duty as a director (including breaches resulting from
     grossly negligent conduct).  This provision in the Restated Certificate of
     Incorporation does not exonerate the directors from liability under federal
     securities laws nor does it limit the availability of non-monetary relief
     in any action or proceeding against a director.  In addition, the Restated
     Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company shall, to the
     fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, indemnify its officers and directors
     against liabilities, costs and expenses as provided by the DGCL.  Insofar
     as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
     permitted to directors, officers or others pursuant to the foregoing
     provisions, the Company has been informed that in the opinion of the
     Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
     the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and is
     therefore unenforceable.

     ITEM 7.   EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

               Not applicable.

                                      -5-
ITEM 8.   EXHIBITS.

               The following exhibits are filed with this Registration
               Statement:

               Exhibit
               Number                Description

               4.1   Firearms Training Systems, Inc. Stock Option Plan
                     (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the
                     Registration Statement on Form S-1, No. 333-13105, filed by
                     the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act)

               5     Opinion of Sidley & Austin regarding legality of the Class
                     A Common Stock

               23.1  Consent of Sidley & Austin (Incorporated by reference to
                     Exhibit 5 hereof)

               23.2  Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP
     

               23.3  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP

     ITEM 9.   UNDERTAKINGS.

               The Company hereby undertakes:

               (a)    (1)  To file, during any period in which offers or sales
     are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                           (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section
                    10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                           (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
                    arising after the effective date of this Registration
                    Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
                    thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent
                    a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
                    Registration Statement;

                           (iii) To include any material information with
                    respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
                    in this Registration Statement or any material change to
                    such information in this Registration Statement;

                                      -6-
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if
     --------  -------                                                          
     the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by
     those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished
     to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
     the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration
     Statement.

               (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.

               (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.

           (b) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report pursuant to
     Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by
     reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new
     registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
     offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
     bona fide offering thereof.

           (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
     Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
     persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or
     otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
     Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
     the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
     claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment
     by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
     controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
     action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
     controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
     registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
     settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
     jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
     public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
     the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      -7-
SIGNATURES

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
     that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly
     caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
     undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Suwanee, State of
     Georgia, on the 25th day of February, 1997.

                                      FIREARMS TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC.

                                      By: /s/ Peter A. Marino
                                          -------------------------------------
                                              Peter A. Marino
                                              President and Chief Executive 
                                              Officer

                       POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

               Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
     appoints Peter A. Marino and David A. Apseloff, each of them singly, his
     true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
     substitution and resubstitution in each of them, for him and his name,
     place and stead, and in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
     amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration
     Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other
     documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said
     attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to
     do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or desirable to be
     done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
     might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
     attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or any of their substitutes may
     lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

               Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following
     persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
       Signature                  Title                     Date
       ---------                  -----                     ----

/s/ Peter A. Marino      Chief Executive Officer,        February 25, 1997
-----------------------  President and Director
Peter A. Marino          (Principal Executive Officer)

                                      -8-
Signature                     Title                     Date
       ---------                     -----                     ---- 

/s/ David A. Apseloff      Treasurer, Chief Financial      February 25, 1997
----------------------     Officer and Assistant
David A. Apseloff          Secretary (Principal
                           Financial and Accounting
                           Officer)
 
/s/ Lester Pollack         Chairman of the Board and       February 25, 1997
----------------------     Director
Lester Pollack
 
                         
----------------------     Director                        February   , 1997
William J. Bratton
                            
----------------------     Director                        February   , 1997
Craig I. Fields
 
/s/ Jonathan H. Kagan      
----------------------     Director                        February 25, 1997
Jonathan H. Kagan
 
/s/ Scott Perekslis      
----------------------     Director                        February 25, 1997
Scott Perekslis
 
                         
----------------------     Director                        February   , 1997
Bruce G. Pollack

/s/ Paul J. Zepf           
----------------------     Director                        February 25, 1997
Paul J. Zepf

                                      -9-