Tactical night vision devices remain an essential component of the equipment of ground amphibious units conducting offensive operations and reconnaissance missions.
Significant efforts are being made to improve the effectiveness of night-time combat by the US Department of Defense, which is exploring several new concepts that can not only offer new night vision devices with optimal performance, but also integrate new capabilities into base models to increase the level of situational awareness. an individual soldier and a small unit.
Get hold of the night
According to Darell Heckler, head of the night vision sector at Harris Corporation Communications Systems, there are many critical requirements for the industry to address US and other international programs.
A representative of the Harris Corporation explained that the market for optoelectronic / infrared (OE / IR) systems today is able to provide more than just small divisions. Night vision devices are now capable of increasing the situational awareness of combat and reconnaissance teams through the integration of augmented reality, virtual reality and machine learning.
“We see the night vision market becoming more than just a visual situational awareness market as it has been in the past. Previously, night vision simply allowed our user to see during periods of limited visibility associated with low light. Today, the future is going to rely on this technology and at the same time provide the user with additional opportunities."
Recalling the evolving operational requirements of the armed forces of many countries, Heckler added: “Systems that include sensor fusion technology [OE / IR], the ability to send and receive important information through their visual systems (day and night), systems that allow the user to become a sensor, all this will become paramount in the future."
Integrated solutions
Similar needs are being addressed by Special Operations Command and the US Army, which have already begun researching specialized concepts to see how these urgent operational needs can be simplified in the short to medium term.
There is a lot of theoretical and practical work in the field of night vision technology. One example is an industry workshop held last November at the Applied Physics Laboratory in Baltimore that looked at integrating augmented and virtual reality displays with head-up night vision HUDs (head-up displays) as well as augmented reality software. reality in order to "improve the optical characteristics" of existing devices.
At this seminar, organized by the Department of Rapid Response Technologies, which is part of the US Department of Defense, the development in the field of fusion of data from various sensors and their subsequent processing, as well as the problems of target designation, as the US military leadership develops strategic plans for the widespread introduction of advanced technologies and devices into the troops night vision.
In parallel, the US Army is working on its Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), which surrounds the fighter with digital tactical data to provide ground units with "increased lethality, mobility and situational awareness to achieve superiority over current and future adversaries."
The IVAS concept, designed to develop the capabilities of existing helmet-mounted opto-thermal imaging displays, including the PVS-5, -7, -14 and -31, PSQ-40 ENVG III models and the ENVG-B binocular prototype, is also aimed at creating ultra-compact thermal imaging and low illumination modules with standard interfaces. They can be connected to the general electronic architecture of the soldier and squad, integrated into head-up displays, the Nett Warrior 3.0 soldier upgrade program, augmented reality algorithms and software, machine learning interfaces and squad fire performance indicators.
These new technologies will be used to provide "rule-based planning and decision-making, quantitative pattern recognition, change detection and identification," an Army spokesman spoke at the event.
A US Army spokesman was unable to provide further details regarding this activity. However. industry sources associated with the program have confirmed that the Office of Night Vision and Electronic Sensors (one of the army's structures) is continuing to study "the development and standardization of sensor modules with aggressive dimensions, weight and power consumption for head-mounted and wearable options in order to enhance the capabilities of the future soldier." …
Development work is expected to include the development of uncooled near [longwave] infrared devices and combined low light and far infrared digital sensors to complement existing OE / IR solutions. as mentioned above. About 40 players will take part in the project, including BAE Systems. Harris Corporation, L3 Technologies, and SA Photonics.
In November, Microsoft Corporation received a $ 479 million contract from the Department of Defense to support the IVAS program. According to an official statement on the Federal Business Opportunities website, the company received the task of supplying hardware, software, and interfaces to support the IVAS program within two years; an initial batch of more than 2,500 prototypes is planned to demonstrate technology.
Neither the army nor Microsoft were able to disclose the details of the contract, although industry officials said the latter plans to integrate its HoloLens head-up display into the IVAS concept in order to explore further development paths.
According to Microsoft documentation, HoloLens technology combines virtual reality and real-world environments into a blended "blended reality." The subsystems integrated into this device can be controlled by "voice, physical commands and direction of gaze."
According to Heckler, Harris Corporation continues to explore new technologies for the IVAS system in line with its own roadmap for night vision devices to improve support for the next generation fighter. Particular emphasis is placed on “as quickly as possible” implementation and integration of new technology into existing devices.
"OE / IR systems with network interface and / or augmented reality will have a huge impact on customers seeking better situational awareness on the battlefield," Heckler said.
In the night vision market, binocular solutions begin to prevail over monocular
Fast development
However, given that initial deliveries of prototypes with IVAS technology and their evaluation by the US Army are not expected in the next at least two years, many manufacturers in the OE / IR market continue to focus on more rapid upgrades of existing equipment.
Describing the current state of the night vision market and short term solutions, Heckler said, “This is the best time for the global night vision industry. We are seeing strong demand for night vision and we are seeing a shift to white phosphor technology virtually all over the world. The move from monocular to binocular seems to be gaining momentum as well, with all our customers wanting better performance. We believe that demand for higher performance systems and the transition to white phosphor and binocular systems will continue over the next few years.”
The growing interest in white phosphor binocular night vision devices confirms the latest requirement of the United States Marine Corps, which issued a draft RFP for its Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle (SBNVG) in November 2018.
According to official documents also published on the Federal Business Opportunities website, the ILC is looking for a modular white phosphor binocular device with image intensification and an integrated uncooled thermal imaging sensor, as well as an external power supply and a corresponding helmet mount.
Requirements provide for a pair of 18mm image converters that can be assembled into a modular configuration so that users who prefer to look with one eye can convert the device into a monocular if necessary. In addition, the proposed technologies should provide, in addition to operating from its own battery, connection through an external connector to the battery pack.
Finally, the total weight of the selected SBNVG device - including sensors, image intensifier and thermal imaging sensor, external battery pack, cables, lenses and light cases - should be less than 1.2 kg. However, the request for proposals stipulates that "the weight of the system does not include the mounting brackets attached to the helmet, which has an interface with the positioning device, nor any other attachment interface permanently attached to the helmet."
The SBNVG requirement is seen as an intermediate opportunity for the USMC, which also plans to receive 3100 ENVG-B night vision goggles from L3 Technologies by 2021.
The ENVG-B device has already been chosen by the American ground forces, from 2019 to 2021 more than 10,000 systems will be purchased for various army structures, initially in the monocular version and later in binocular configurations.
In June 2018, as part of a three-year contract, the Army awarded L3 Technologies a $ 391 million contract for the supply of ENVG-B night vision goggles. “The white phosphor and dual-tube solution allow users to keep up with nearly equal competitors, increasing agility and improving targeting throughout the battlefield,” said the director of the company.
The ENVG-B device, which is also considered as a possible candidate for the IVAS concept, is capable of integrating a separate IR channel, which can be combined with an image brightness enhancement channel in order to increase the likelihood of target detection. Additional requirements include connectivity to networked devices such as programmable radios and end-user smartphones / tablets that are part of the Nett Warrior Soldier Upgrade Program.
"This technology improves the operator's ability to localize and capture threats and evaluate images of the general operational environment," said a spokesman for L3 Technologies."The ENVG-B also includes a new high-resolution display and built-in wireless networking, rapid target acquisition, and augmented reality algorithms to interact with the soldier's advanced systems while improving interoperability and expanding scope."
In addition, L3 Technologies offers another device in the form of helmet-mounted panoramic night vision goggles GPNVG (Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggle). However, the company confirmed that the GPNVG glasses are not yet planned to be upgraded under the IVAS program.
According to the company, GPNVGs provide a 97 ° field of view, which allows "surveillance and / or target identification in low light conditions where increased strength and shock resistance are required."
Channel alignment
Meanwhile, Harris Corporation offers its i-Aware TM-NVG (Tactical Mobility-Night Vision Goggle) night vision goggles in monocular and binocular configurations. They combine images from two channels, low illumination and infrared.
Thanks to the development of augmented reality technology, the translucent display of the TM-NVG device displays GPS coordinates, topographic elements, text messages and target information. Other capabilities allow the user to view images directly from remote surveillance and data collection sensors, including images from special reconnaissance aircraft and drones.
The TM-NVG device has a field of view of 33 °, a resolution of a long-wave infrared sensor of 320x240, a video resolution of 640x480 with a frequency of up to 10 frames per second. TM-NVG also has a USB 2.0 connector and is powered by four AA batteries, allowing continuous operation for 7.5 hours.
In October 2018, Harris Corporation and L3 Technologies announced a merger, although company representatives could not say anything about the plans of the new firm Harris L3 Technologies to develop night vision devices.
The night vision market continues to shift from green phosphor to white phosphor displays
Working with zero visibility
In addition to the United States, there is a growing need for CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) technology, which significantly improves the quality of operations in low and zero light conditions. Several companies are presently presenting advanced solutions to the armed forces of many countries.
At Africa Aerospace and Defense in South Africa in September 2018, Photonis unveiled the latest in its Nocturn family of digital cameras, designed to meet the military's needs for helmet-mounted devices and weapon scopes that feature dual-channel fusion. …
First unveiled to the public at Eurosatory 2018, EBCMOS is based on Photonis' Nocturn CMOS digital camera and features a smaller form factor and higher image resolution than other night vision devices.
“Most demanding extreme low light imaging applications require advanced digital solutions,” explained a Photonis spokesperson. - EBCMOS is an electro-optical converter in which microchannel plates and a phosphor screen are replaced by a special CMOS photodetector. The EBCMOS device, currently available in two resolutions of 2 and 4 megapixels, provides users with higher resolution and more contrasting images.”
Another player in the CMOS market, Rochester Precision Optics, is offering the military its CMOS Night Observation Device (CNOD). Among the buyers of this device are the US Special Operations Command and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
A company spokesman said CMOS technology allows for more accurate and clearer images for users operating in difficult combat conditions, including populated areas and close combat.
According to a Rochester Precision Optics spokesperson, the CNOD is available in a variety of configurations, including the RSM model for law enforcement, the LD model for military customers, and the DR model for long-range operations."CNOD has high resolution, fully digital day / night optics, optimized to operate as a surveillance monocular, stand-alone weapon sight, or mountable secondary sight."
The system, which operates in the range of 500-1800 nm, is capable of detecting its own and other people's laser pointers and rangefinders - a function that is useful and in demand by the armed forces operating in an increasingly dense combat space, where eliminating conflict situations between the parties remains a primary task.
The CNOD device weighs 520 grams and is powered by CR123 batteries, has a 6x digital zoom, as well as the function of transferring high-resolution photos and videos to other combatants.
Achieving Success
Absolute Darkness to Vision (AD2V) also develops handheld, helmet-mounted and weapon-mounted devices based on CMOS technology and supplies them to the German Ministry of Defense.
Compared to the alternative night vision goggles currently available on the market, AD2V's Luxiter PM1 digital night vision system is smaller. According to Wilhelm Gronauer of Griffity Defense (European distributor of AD2V), the Luxiter PM1 digital device is capable of "recording and exporting streaming video generated by its own matrix, importing data from external sources, and controlling commands from devices and issuing text messages."
Weighing less than 300 grams, the Luxiter PM1 has a resolution of 795x596 pixels and a variable field of view ranging from 19 ° to 56 °. However, the device was designed for relatively short ranges; Gronauer confirmed that the device provides object detection and identification at a maximum range of 100 meters.
In addition, Gronauer explained that the CMOS sensor minimizes any negative optical effects in the operator's field of view when firing in confined spaces, and added that the Luxiter PM1 is equipped with an infrared illuminator for low-light performance.
"Digital black and white screens allow better object recognition and faster decision making, while instantaneous transitions from darkness to light and back are compensated by the device and do not affect the user."
The unit can also be upgraded with an external Luxiter EC-2H camera to give users the added benefit of streaming data over a programmable radio interface.
Small doubts remain as to whether night vision will remain a critical requirement for ground forces in current and future operational scenarios. However, the potential of such technology, integrated into various situational awareness systems, can provide a significant impetus for the development of next generation solutions.
However, as one industry expert explained, the implementation of this type of technology must be closely monitored, with particular emphasis on minimizing the cognitive burden on operators in an already complex operating environment.
