Marines Test New Night Vision Goggles in Realistic Setting

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A view of a Marine through the Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle at night. In January, a group of Marines with The Basic School assessed the Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle—night vision system comprising an image-intensifier binocular and enhanced clip-on thermal imager (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kirstin Spanu).
A view of a Marine through the Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle at night. In January, a group of Marines with The Basic School assessed the Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle—night vision system comprising an image-intensifier binocular and enhanced clip-on thermal imager (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kirstin Spanu).

May 29, 2020 | Originally published by Marines on February 18, 2020

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, VA —

In January, a group of Marines assessed next-generation night vision goggles in a realistic setting.

The Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle (SBNVG) is a lightweight night vision system comprising an image-intensifier binocular and enhanced clip-on thermal imager. The SBNVG is more capable than the AN/PVS-14—the legacy system that lacked the performance characteristics of the newer technology.

A helmet-mounted system, the SBNVG provides increased depth perception, improved clarity, and a thermal-imaging capability to detect targets in extreme darkness or through battlefield obscurants. Marines can use the goggles to operate vehicles at night, move through dark buildings or tunnels, and engage targets after sunset.