More Than Meets the Eye

Written by Marty Kauchak

SOTECH 2009 Volume: 7 Issue: 7 (September)

Solider-borne sensors improve the warfighter’s lethality and survivability in all weather and visibility conditions. Handheld and helmet- mounted night vision optics devices are used by SOF and their regular force counterparts to acquire objects of military significance before the service man or woman is detected. Equipment options permit the warfighter to target threat objects accurately for engagement, transfer data to C4I systems, and complete other missions—with more capabilities on the way.

HANDHELD PRODUCTS

A number of evolutionary trends are occurring throughout DoD’s night vision optics portfolio. While the devices are migrating toward smaller form factors, they are also delivering expanded capabilities, including serving as a node in C4I networks. These developments are most notable in the department’s roster of handheld sensors.

One pronounced trend among handheld devices is their evolution toward smaller form factors. One product that particularly embodies this trend is L-3 Communications Infrared Products’ Thermal Eye X200xp, which is 5.25 x 4.5 x 2 inches (13.4 x 11.4 x 5.1 centimeters), and 13 ounces (0.37 kilograms). This product appears to be out in front of the bow wave to achieve lighter, more compact devices. The X200xp “stows easily into pocket for quick extraction and covert operation in the field and on the run,” read a company statement.

The Thermal Eye X200xp was introduced in 2005 and has been delivered to the U.S. services and USSOCOM. The X200xp has significant improvements over its X100 predecessor, including 50 percent greater stand-off range to detect human activity at up to 450 meters (1,476 feet). While the product represents the migration to smaller form factors, there is a trade-off with the current generation of technology—in terms of decreased detection range and other capabilities—when compared to heavier and bulkier legacy thermal imaging systems.

Asked about enhancements or follow-on models for the X200xp, Kari Yeh, marketing manager, L-3 Communications Infrared Products, told SOTECH, “We are not publicly announcing anything at this time.” In January, Elcan Optical Technologies, a Raytheon company, was awarded a $180 million indefinite delivery/ indefinite quantity contract for the procurement, delivery, maintenance and logistical support of the U.S. Marine Corps’ medium range thermal biocular (MRTB). Work on this contract will be performed in Richardson, Texas, and is expected to be completed by January 2014.

The new Marine Corps’ MRTB (designated AN/PAS-28) is capable of providing individual thermal imaging capability to the Marine rifle squad, machine gun squad, and other Marine Corps units, engaging in offensive and defensive operations. The MRTB is based on the battle-proven Elcan commercial off-the-shelf PhantomIR already in service with the U.S. Army and other components. “The USMC MRTB features product upgrades including the latest Raytheon Vision Systems IR detector technology, a dual-mode infrared laser marker, image and video recording capability, plus precision ELCAN optics providing extended range performance,” read a company statement.

David Dalrymple, manager, global marketing and business development, Elcan, told SOTECH, “We have successfully met the program qualification milestones since the award and are ramping for high-rate production and delivery of an estimated 4,700 units.” Initial shipping of the units is scheduled to start this fall. Dalrymple added, “Besides the outstanding performance and features of the PhantomIRxr, it is unique in its comfortable and easy-to-use design. It just fits so well in the users’ hands, very streamlined and ergonomic. This is perhaps its most distinguishing feature.”

The COTS PhantomIR (320 x 240 resolution) has been sold to numerous homeland security forces. PhantomIRxr (640 x 480 and detection beyond 2,000 meters) is intended for U.S. forces and their closest allies.

“The win of the MRTB program and success of the first AN/ PAS-28 units marks the entry of Elcan as a key player in manportable, multi-function targeting systems,” concluded Dalrymple. FLIR’s list of handheld cameras include the MilCAM Recon III LocatIR and MilCAM Recon III ObservIR, and the MilCAM Recon III Lite and MilCAM Recon III UltraLite devices. The devices offer an interesting blend of capabilities.

The Recon III LocatIR is the company’s long-range, lightweight, thermal binocular with geo-location capability. The device weighs about 9.5 pounds (4.3 kilograms). Similar to other Recon III products, the device has a tri-pod mount for optional use.

The LocatIR, along with several of its industry competitors, continues the migration of devices to more than a binocular capability. This device’s global positioning sensor; digital magnetic compass; and eyesafe, modular laser rangefinder allow this device to provide precision geo-location of targets with a laser rangefinder. The LocatIR can be configured for full remote-control, continuous operation with video output.

D-cell Lithium batteries allow 2.5 hours of continuous operation. FLIR’s Recon III ObservIR is another long-range, lightweight, thermal binocular. The device shares many of the LocatIR’s longrange optics, and thermal imaging performance and operational standards, without a geo-location capability.

This slightly slimmed down device weighs about 6.5 pounds. binocular. This model sheds some of the capabilities, along with weight, of its two heftier Recon III siblings. Some of the Lite’s refined capabilities include one FOV (9.2 degrees (horizontal) x 6.9 degrees (vertical)), and operation in one spectral band (8–12 micrometers), according to a company statement.

The Recon III Lite’s features include automatic, digital processing techniques; a visible light camera to provide color discrimination for the operator to improve the ability to describe a daylight scene and flexible, remote-control power and video options.

The Recon III UltraLite retains many of the Lite’s capabilities and is delivered at about 3.75 pounds.The company has said, “Operators of the MilCAM Recon III multisensor can toggle between daylight and thermal imagers or display the IR and TV images in a split-screen mode. This is the only system of this type to provide two thermal imaging cameras for simultaneous wideangle and long-range observation.”

Overseas, Elbit Systems Electro-optics’ (Elop) forward-looking infrared (FLIR) systems portfolio continues to mature and find favor with overseas services. The systems employ the latest IR-cooled, in addition to advanced un-cooled technologies, focal point array (FPA) signal and image processing. Elop’s FLIRs deliver a 24/7 observation and surveillance advantage for air, naval and ground applications. Haim Soffer, marketing and business development, Thermal Imaging Systems, Elbit Systems Electro-optics (Elop), remarked that his company’s full range of products include the Coral family of lightweight, handheld thermal imaging cameras. One flagship product is the Coral handheld, 3-5 micron FPA, thermal imaging binocular camera. The device weighs less than about 5.5 pounds. The Coral handheld camera has optional equipment including an integral GPS receiver and a clip-on laser pointer.

A second Elop product is the MARS un-cooled, handheld thermal imager, fielded with target acquisition capabilities. MARS weighs less than 4.4 pounds, and is compact, low on power consumption, and combines a laser rangefinder, GPS, compass, day channel and recording system. These features make MARS especially suited for the individual soldier, infantry forces and SOF, pointed out Soffer.

“High performance in a small, lightweight package, with very low power consumption. Our systems are reliable and incorporate fieldproven operational experience worldwide,” concluded Soffer.

The Coral family of products has been supplied to over 20 countries, some of which are Israel, the U.S. (including the Marines), Canada and Germany. MARS has been supplied to the Israeli Defense Force.

Vetronix’s Moskito provides a number of innovations to the ground warfighter. The Swiss-based company’s device is reported to contain all functions for 24/7 target acquisition including day and night range observation, rangefinding and angle management. One capability that caught our attention was the Moskito’s use of technology enablers to support C4I connectivity and establishing the precise geo-location of threats. These enabling options include a C/A code GPS receiver and Bluetooth module for data transfer to these defense systems. “Laser rangefinder, day and night channel, are matched to each other and optimized for close- and medium-range applications to 2,500 m,” read a company statement.

The Moskito is pushing the technology envelope on battery and power consumption ratings. According to the company, the device can support more than 2,000 measurements and 24 hours night operation on a pair of commercial, 3-volt lithium batteries. Moskito’s weight is less than 2.6 pounds.

LEGACY HELMET AND HEAD-MOUNTED DEVICES

More capable helmet- and head-mounted devices are also providing operators with increased agility in all visibility conditions. ITT Night Vision’s four legacy soldier-borne sensor products are familiar to military personnel around the globe: AN/PVS-7s, AN/PVS-14 and AN/PVS-23, for military ground operations; and AN/AVS-9s for the aviation warfighter.M

ITT Night Vision is one of the companies that delivered the AN/ PVS-7 family of devices to U.S. DoD. L-3 Communications Electro- Optical Systems (L-3 EOS) is another. The AN/PVS-7 is a single tube, dual eye night vision system. The device uses a dual eyepiece and optics design to view through a single image intensifier. “As a result, the system does not provide stereoscopic depth perception as both eyes see the exact same image making it more difficult to engage in dynamic tactical operations. In addition, the system limits the operator’s peripheral vision to the system’s field of view,” Steve Brecken, director of communications, ITT Night Vision, told SOTECH. While AN/PVS-7s models are no longer produced and will be in department inventories through early next decade, most regular service and SOF requirements have shifted to the AN/PVS-14.

The AN/PVS-14 “is the most widely fielded night vision system in the world,” Brecken pointed out. ITT Night Vision, an AN/PVS-14 provider, delivers the system as a single tube, single eye monocular night vision device designed for handheld surveillance or helmet-mounted ground combat operations. The AN/PVS-14's lighter weight pound) and smaller size also allow the system to be mounted on any weapon that uses the MIL-STD-1913 rail, including the M16 and M4. The AN/ PVS-14 can be used in conjunction with various weapon sights, such as advanced combat optical gunsights, red dots and holographic sights in addition to various visible or covert infrared lasers and illuminators.

ITT’s AN/PVS-23 is a binocular, two-tube night vision system designed for rugged ground operations. “The dual tube system provides additional visual capabilities to both eyes enhancing the depth perception queues particularly in close quarters battle operations. The AN/PVS-23 is the preferred system in special operations due to its mission-specific capabilities,” pointed out Brecken.

The AN/AVS-9, a dual tube binocular night vision goggle, is found on many aviators’ equipment lists. The system is smaller and lighter than the more rugged ground system to eliminate excess weight from the aviator’s head and helmet. ITT’s Brecken said that the system is powered remotely from a low-profile battery pack attached to the back of the helmet to provide counterbalance to the weight of the NVG. “However, the most important requirement of the aviation NVG is the image tube. The image intensifiers used in the aviation NVGs are designed and manufactured to the highest performance specifications available giving the aviator the best visual capability possible for successfully executing the most demanding missions of any special operation, whether extracting operators or providing critical air support,” he emphasized.

For its part, L-3 EOS delivered other legacy devices to the warfighter, including AN/PVS-15 binoculars and AN/PVS-18 monocular for handheld, helmet-mounted SOF applications.

NEW DEVICE

The AN/PSQ-20 enhanced night vision goggle (ENVG) is being manufactured by ITT Night Vision for the U.S. Army. With the delivery of about 300 sets of the new night vision goggles to the 10th Mountain Division this February, SOF and regular Army units use the device.

“The ENVG is a helmet-mounted passive image intensification and thermal device that incorporates both I2 [image intensifier] and long-wave infrared sensors into a single integrated system. It weighs 2 pounds, including the battery pack, which uses four AA batteries, the helmet mount and wiring harness,” read a PEO Soldier statement.

Lieutenant Colonel Joseph A. Capobianco, product manager, Soldier Sensors and Lasers (PM SSL), told SOTECH that the Enhanced night vision goggle (optical) (ENVG(O)), AN/PSQ-20, increases the operational capability and situational awareness of the warfighter by enabling him to see in situations where either the AN/PVS-14 or thermal weapon sight, in singular use, has limited capabilities. “ENVG(O) brings an unprecedented capability to the warfighter by increasing situational awareness, maneuverability, and enhancing their ability to see under degraded visibility conditions, including total darkness [limited to zero starlight conditions] and a ‘dirty’ battlefield,” he noted.

ITT Night Vision’s Brecken added, “The unit provides complete visual capabilities through smoke and fog, glass [windows and windshields] and light cover.”

PROSPECTIVE MILITARY APPLICATION

U.S. Night Vision Corp.’s ATAC 360° is a lowcost, high-resolution thermal imaging system that allows the user to see in total darkness. The system has a 320 x 240 resolution FLIR camera and an 8-14 micron, long-wave infrared rating, which also permits the operator to easily see through different obscurants.

Product models provide versatility for wireless, handheld operation; hard-wired toggle control; or dash-mounted remote controls. The ATAC 360° is weatherproof and saltwater-proof for both land and sea applications, including employment on vehicles or watercraft. Similar to other thermal imaging systems, the ATAC 360° has potential use by the military, law enforcement community and other first responders. With respect to envisioned military use, Steve Gibbons, tactical product specialist, for DoD and other accounts, U.S. Night Vision, told SOTECH that while the product is not in service with DoD, “we have just begun system demos and marketing.”

ON THE HORIZON

ITT Night Vision’s Brecken added that while not intended specifically for SOF, his company, in partnership with the U.S. Army, recently provided prototypes of the digital enhanced night vision goggle (ENVG (D)) to the service for evaluation. He noted, “The ENVG (D) utilizes digital thermal and low-light-level sensors to provide digitally fused imagery to the dismounted soldier. ENVG (D) will offer the ability to export and import digital imagery, connecting the dismounted soldier to the digital battlefield.” The product is expected to be a quantum leap forward in technology as it replaces the standard image intensification tube with a new digital sensor, the MicroChannel Plate Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (MCPCMOS). “The MCPCMOS sensor provides outstanding image-intensified video, enabling digital fusion with thermal infrared video. This allows full digitally fused video to be exported to the digital battlefield for intelligence exploitation, as well as the ability to import video, giving the soldier enhanced situational awareness on the battlefield,” explained Brecken.

PM SSL is the Army lead for fielding ENVG (D). The project “is currently in development to take advantage of image processing techniques to improve situational awareness for the soldier. A digital ENVG system lends itself to the battlefield of the future with the ability to import and export digital files [data/map injection],” remarked Capobianco.

In another forward looking effort, L-3 EOS has started an internal R&D project to advance handheld and helmet mounted devices. “We have begun an effort to develop a low halo tube specifically for aviation applications. These tubes could also be utilized in existing weapon sights and goggles,” revealed Roy Lewis, director, business development. ♦

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