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| AN/PVS-5 | |
|---|---|
 AN/PVS-5A night vision goggle worn by a US soldier in 1988. | |
| Type | Passive |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Category | Head/helmet mountable |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972–present [1] |
| Used by | United States Armed Forces |
| Wars | Vietnam War Operation Eagle Claw Persian Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1971 |
| Manufacturer | ITT Industries Litton Industries |
| Variants | AN/PVS-5, AN/PVS-5A, AN/PVS-5B, AN/PVS-5C |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 850 grams |
| Dimensions (L×H×W) | 6.5" x 6.8" x 4.7" |
| Resolution (lp/mm) | >32 lp/mm |
| Mode of Operation | Passive |
| II tube | MX-9916 |
| Field of vision (°) | 40 degrees |
| Range of detection | 50m (Starlight) 150m (Moonlight) |
| System zoom | 1× |
| Generation | 2 |
The AN/PVS-5 is a dual-tube night-vision goggle used for aviation and ground support. It uses second-generation image-intensifier tubes. The United States Army still has PVS-5 on supply but are very rarely used. The AN/PVS-5 is based on the SU-50 which was a first-generation night-vision goggle adapted by the United States Air Force in 1971. From 1972 until 1990 the AN/PVS-5 was the mainstay in US Army night vision for aviation. The AN/PVS-5C was not approved for flight because of its high-light cut off feature causing the goggle to shut off in bright light. For ground troops the AN/PVS-5 was the sole night-vision goggle until the adaptation of the improved AN/PVS-7.
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By today's standards, the PVS-5 was a safety risk for pilots. Issues such as a limited field of view, poor light amplification, inability to read maps, and its excessive weight made it difficult to fly while operating them. In 1982, tests were being made for a suitable replacement for the AN/PVS-5 specifically for aviation. This led to the adaptation of the AN/AVS-6 ANVIS in 1989. The ANVIS was the first night-vision goggle used by the United States Army specifically designed for aviation.
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/PVS-5" designation represents the 5th design of an Army-Navy electronic device for portable visual detection equipment. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.
