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AN/PVS-5 | |
---|---|
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 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. Photographic evidence from Operation Eagle Claw shows US military personnel at Desert One in Iran using in the AN/PVS-5 NVGs.[ citation needed ]
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.
The designation AN/PVS translates to Army/Navy Portable Visual Search, according to Joint Electronics Type Designation System guidelines.
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The AN/PSQ-20 Enhanced Night Vision Goggle (ENVG) is a third-generation passive monocular night vision device developed for the United States Armed Forces by ITT Exelis. It fuses image-intensifying and thermal-imaging technologies, enabling vision in conditions with very little light. The two methods can be used simultaneously or individually. The ENVG was selected by the US Army's Program Executive Office Soldier as a supporting device for the Future Force Warrior program in 2004, and is intended to replace the older AN/PVS-7 and AN/PVS-14 systems. Although more expensive and heavier than previous models, US Special Forces began using the goggles in 2008 and the US Army's 10th Mountain Division began fielding the AN/PSQ-20 in 2009. Improvements to the goggles have been attempted to make them lighter, as well as enabling the transmission of digital images to and from the battlefield.
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