Posted on 04/30/2010 12:44:25 PM PDT by gandalftb
Soldiers now have a leap-ahead new tool that will enhance their ability to see in total darkness: the AN/PSQ-20 Enhanced Night Vision Goggle.
About 300 sets of the new night-vision goggles were fielded to the 10th Mountain Division in February 2009, the first unit other than Special Forces to use the goggles.
The ENVG is a helmet-mounted passive image intensification and thermal device that incorporates both I2 and long-wave infrared sensors into a single integrated system. It weighs two pounds, including the battery pack which uses four AA batteries, the helmet mount, and wiring harness.
Feasibility studies resulted in a concept to combine a thermal camera with enhanced image intensification into an integrated helmet-borne system, something that would allow Soldiers literally to see through total darkness while still enabling them to see details and to use weapon-mounted aiming lasers.
The ENVG also facilitates faster threat recognition and thereby reduces the possibility of collateral damage and fratricide, PEO-Soldier officials said.
http://www.vimeo.com/4532787
https://peosoldier.army.mil/newpeo/Equipment/Temp.asp?id=sms_envg
(Excerpt) Read more at army.mil ...
Our current NVG, the AN/PVS-14, in very low-light, such as caves, uses a light source to illuminate. The enemy has procured I2 detectors to easily spot our troops at night.
The ENVG can switch off the I2 and go strictly infra-red, with no tell-tale signal.
In total darkness, I could easily spot who was carrying ammo in their pocket and tell the difference between a 5.56 and a 7.62 shell casing. The IR field of view was like daylight, complete clarity. Since the ENVG senses heat, anything that blocks the radiation of body heat stands out, such as ammo, grenades, knives, IED vests, etc. No more hiding weapons under burqas.
The IR works day or night, fog or smoke, and no halo effect from lights. Now we can easily see friendlies and detect threats hundreds of yards away.
This is a game-changer for night ops and we need to rush it to the battlefield.
More versions are coming with video upload ability and digital enhancement.
If we could just do something about the Afghani guard dogs, we would really own the night instead of just renting it.
Carry bacon
Do you still get a headache after looking through it all night?
May be of interest.
HushPuppy...9mm subsonic, MK22 mod O...based on the S&W Mod 39.
I think that is great.
It looks like a fantastic thing to get to the troops. It is nice to think we are keeping up with a changing tactical environment.
...now, I really hate to bring this up, but it is a long standing policy that anyone using the term “game changer” should be soundly beaten, chastized, spurned, made a public exaqmple of, and humiliated.
Since we are all anonymous here, could you please do that to yourself and report back? It would be really appreciated. We are a bit overworked in that department lately and have been requesting people handle the matter on their own.
(From the people against the term “Game Changer” All rights reserved.)
They look heavy. Wouldn’t the neck hurt after a while?
Is that Obama wearing NVG in the broad daylight?
poison the dogs. Kill them and they are not a problem. How hard can it be to drop some nuggets of food that look like stones that will kill animals?
Look for the rules of engagement to forbid its use in Muslim countries for fear of offending the delicate sensibilities of the indigenous population.
The resolution clarity of the new monocular makes it much easier to see detail, so you don't have to stare so hard, reducing eye strain a lot.
The real beauty of IR is that when you swing it away, your eyes don't have adjust to the darkness if you have to engage quickly.
BTW, here is another link I forgot to post:
http://www.nightvision.com/products/military/case_study-ENVG.htm
Night ops?
Daylight ops with thermal only is going to rock!
Yes, I also tried out 2 silencers for the M-4, very quiet from 200 yards, ya just gotta make sure its a head shot. Hard to do at night on a small and moving target.
I do use the term sparingly and only when refering to weapons that allow us to “overmatch” the enemy and that’s what this ENVG does.
The version I tried was about a pound, half the model shown. The new covers should carry them easily. Funny you should ask, the ENVG’s came without mounting shoes, SNAFU, geez.... So they either mounted them on their weapon rails, to the front of their scopes (nice feature) or used the (no cover) head gear accessory.
They are very effective in daylight, you turn down the light gain and can see anything under clothing easily at 100 yards. In fact, burqa-covered male anatomy is observable...
I need to buy a pair of these.
The desert is very quiet at night except for the crickets and birds that quiet down when you approach. That is what the dogs sense, not the sound of our troops, but the sudden absence of sound from the background critters.
Totally cool. I thought “starlight scopes” were the cat’s meow back in the day.
Peripheral vision sucks with those rigs doesn’t it? I’m guessing hitting you with a light won’t totally blind you, eh, as it’s infra red?
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