Enhanced Night Vision Goggle

[ARGAR FORKBEARD]

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_...p;fullscreen=1 (http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4532787&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1)

[Valkyries]

http://vimeo.com/4532787

for those who dont want full screen

[captainahab]

damn thats cool

[Seraphim]

Man, that is pretty sweet.

[Soldat_Américain]

yeah I saw this on soldier systems...I'll post the story they have

Enhanced Night Vision Goggle[/B]

Developed by ITT under the direction of PM-Soldier Sensors and Lasers, the AN/PSQ-20 Enhanced Night Vision Goggle is a helmet-mounted passive Image Intensification (I2) and thermal device that incorporates both I2 and long-wave infrared sensors into a single integrated system. It weighs just two pounds, including the battery pack and its four AA batteries, the helmet mount, and wiring harness.

The ENVG will detect a Man-sized target (standing and moving) with an 80 percent probability at 150 meters, and a 50 percent probability at 300 meters. It is designed to provide 7.5 hours of fused vision enhancement and an additional 7.5 hours of image intensification.http://soldiersystems.net/2009/06/10/enhanced-night-vision-goggle/]

So this was the first time I watched the video...where can I get one for my kit? Or the better question is what does it cost and when will the US Army be fielding it widespread.

[Slouch]

That is badass. I want that. Pity the ADF will have it in, oh, 15 years or so.

[Sarig]

Oh man that'd be wicked for deer hunting!

And war I suppose, but come on.

[paracrusader]

I recently spoke with the fielding manager from PEO-soldier in reference to these at a demonstration, and each BCT will be fielding over a thousand of them, starting in the next year or so. He was very adamant that individual assignment and doctorine will be up to the units, but I would speculate that team leaders and crew served gunners will be first, just as when they fielded the PEQ-2 (showing my age now!)...

[BrianT]

Wish they made them in a bino setup instead.

[Soldat_Américain]

Does it have better depth perception?

[crazyman]

One fact the video skips is that the system is heavier and has more parts. When worn on the ACH the battery pack (4xAA batteries) goes on the back of the helmet. This means that A: you have more wires to deal with and avoid breaking, B: its heavier (by a fair bit) and C: to change batteries you'd have to either have your buddy do it, or take your helmet off. All of that being said I do think its a good system. Thermal has a lot of uses beyond just enhancing vision,it also can show you fun things like where someone has been laying/leaning for a long time, where someone has dug fairly recently, etc etc.

[paracrusader]

I kind of like the battery pack, vs. the PVS-14... balances the weight on your head. OTOH, I have not yet worn this for an all-nighter, either. Also, if needed, you could easily change the battery on the -14 without removing it from the mount or from your head. Don't know about these.

Anyways, looking forward to using them...

[crazyman]

Para, I'm more worried about the battery change than I am the weight, as are you I think. My other issue is that if the batteries are on the back of your head, implied is that there is some little cord going from back to front to supply power, making things more complicated. I just feel more comfortable with simple systems, I guess. All this being said I still love having thermal available to the dismounts in something considerably smaller than the PAS-13 series sights.

[seraosha]

Thermals just kick ass. Glad to see something this cool down to the LPC level, vs when I had 'em as a mounted crew system.

[Spezz]

Looks very effective indeed, how much does such a thing cost?

[Virus]

Para, I'm more worried about the battery change than I am the weight, as are you I think. My other issue is that if the batteries are on the back of your head, implied is that there is some little cord going from back to front to supply power, making things more complicated. I just feel more comfortable with simple systems, I guess. All this being said I still love having thermal available to the dismounts in something considerably smaller than the PAS-13 series sights.

Maybe one way to mitigate having to take the helmet off, maybe the battery pack could be detachable, with the wire connector as a quick detach as well, then it could be changed out by the user, without removing the envg, or their helmet.

[BrianT]

It's a non-issue. Aviators and high speed units have been using ANVIS nods with battery packs for decades now.

[crazyman]

Fair 'nuff. I'm the kind of guy who has to play with it to believe it, personally. If anyone happens to get their hands on and can confirm/deny, good times

[SBL]

Here's what might be a stupid question: over which eye are you supposed to wear night-vision (e.g. your 'shooting eye')?

[L4gi]

Woah, now that is something. Anyone know how much they cost? :P

[Karaahmetoglu]

What about just thermals like this:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn308/Kypchakturk/01.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn308/Kypchakturk/big.jpg

Pictures Courtesy of ATN corp


What do you guys think of these? I like them they act as thermals (obvious advantages). They have clear pictures, unlike the blue and orange thermals where you cannot tell the difference between a bear and a human, and they operate day and night.

I like these imaging devices, if I am wrong correct me.

[crazyman]

Here's what might be a stupid question: over which eye are you supposed to wear night-vision (e.g. your 'shooting eye')?

I have always worn my PVS-14s over my right (non shooting) eye. Reason being if something went off and I got dazzled, my shooting eye would still be usable. This being said I have always worked in very urban areas of Iraq (Mosul, Baghdad, Baqouba) and my primary uses for NVGs were to spot laser pointers from air assets (mostly the IZLID on the AH-64), and IFF. I was never in a position where I needed to use my weapon and could not use my optics, so people who have had different experiences may disagree with me. I can tell you that doing night shoots using a PEQ-2 or a PEQ-15 with my NVGs on my non shooting eye were not a problem, I was comfortable with the setup and shot just fine.

[SBL]

^Thanks for taking the time to answer that--it's one of those things I've wondered about, but never had the presence of mind to ask/find out.

It's pretty much up to the individual, I take it.

[crazyman]

Indeed it is up to shooter preference. As a PL I let my soldiers try both methods out in training, and offhand I would say 9 out of 10 stuck with my method. Another way I've used PVS-14s (in training when my PEQ-2 was in the shop) was to mount them on my M4 in front of my M68. Not the best method...I was forced to point my weapon at anything I wanted to look at, but it worked for the situation, which was a company attack into a town (much more conventional than I was used to, but VERY fun)

Shooter preference is well and good, as long as the shooter thinks things through first...and with young soldiers sometimes its up to their leaders to show them a couple ways that work, THEN let the soldier go at his kit from there, with some QA/QC from the leaders. I feel confident to say that in any given unit, you'll see a lot of emulation of leadership by the soldiers at platoon level. You can damn near identify what squad or platoon a soldier is in by what he's wearing and how he's wearing it. Not a bad thing, just another example of imitation being the highest form of flattery.

[Karaahmetoglu]

What about just thermals like this:
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn308/Kypchakturk/01.jpg
http://i307.photobucket.com/albums/nn308/Kypchakturk/big.jpg

Pictures Courtesy of ATN corp


What do you guys think of these? I like them they act as thermals (obvious advantages). They have clear pictures, unlike the blue and orange thermals where you cannot tell the difference between a bear and a human, and they operate day and night.

I like these imaging devices, if I am wrong correct me.

Bump for question.

[Jippo]

I have used Matis, which shows similar image. It is very handy, but also thermals have their limitations. So obviously combining image intensifiers and thermals has it's advantages.