Enhanced night-vision

28 August 2007

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract to design and develop a digitally enhanced night-vision goggle as part of the US Army’s Enhanced Night Vision Goggle program.

According to BAE Systems, this next-generation goggle will use digital imagery to improve soldier mobility and situational awareness under all lighting conditions.

The helmet-mounted goggle will digitally combine video imagery from a low-light-level visible sensor and an uncooled long-wave infrared sensor on a single colour display located in front of the soldier's eye. This digital technology will provide improved image quality and will enable imagery to be shared among soldiers, improving platoon effectiveness.

BAE Systems will incorporate its uncooled MicroIR microbolometer sensor technology in the enhanced goggle. This technology also is used in the thermal weapon sights the company supplies to the army. BAE Systems has two microbolometer foundries and says it has delivered more than 50,000 microbolometer-based imagers to date.