The Surface ANVIS Mount from Adams Industries is an economical way to adapt your ANVIS family night vision goggles to ballistic and non-ballistic helmets. It is compatible with standard VAS shrouds . It’s also rugged as hell.
Archive for the ‘Sensors’ Category
SOFIC – Adams Industries
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012SOFIC – N-Vision Optics
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012N-Vision Optics is displaying the Night Vision Platform Rotation or NVPR.
N-Vision Optics listened to operator complaints about the high profile of binocular systems in the up or stowed position. They use the latest, certified tubes and have created a completely new chassis that place the individual tubes closer to the helmet. Additionally, this means that the tubes can be used individually or in concert with one another. Additionally, it is a completely integrated system with battery and mount, all-in-one.
Pivothead Video Recording Eyewear
Sunday, May 6th, 2012Pivothead eyewear provides still and video recording. But there’s no fish eye distortion with this camera system. It features a 75 Degree Field Of View.
The lenses offer 100% UV A/B/C Blocking and ANSI Z80.3 Impact Resistance. There are multiple frame options including the Durango seen here.
HD video recording options include 1080p@30 frames per second / 720p@60fps / 720p@30fps with continuous auto focus. Pivothead also offers wind-resistant audio recording. The sensor incorporates a 8MP Sony CMOS Image Sensor for crisp still images as well as face tracking. Still recording options include time lapse burst stills with up to 16-shot rapid bursts shots per interval. Includes a 8GB internal memory capacity.
TNVC Base Jump Lanyard
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
The new TNVC Base Jump Lanyard is specifically designed for the Ops Core Base Jump Helmet. It incorporates a Wilcox Retractable Lanyard Module and requires no modification to the helmet during installation. Drilling helmets is not endorsed by either TNVC nor Ops Core. The strap system features dual-sided micro hook/loop that sandwiches between the inner helmet shell and pads. The lanyard is held very secure, providing a low profile, elegant solution to retaining expensive Night Vision Goggles. The TNVC Base Jump Lanyard keeps your NVG’s from hitting the deck if the mount becomes dislodged during use. The system is available in black or tan and is available now.
TNVC IRS (Infra Red Sale)
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
TNVC is running their annual Tax-Refund special: IRS (Infra Red Sale). Check out their website for savings on all Generation 3 Night Vision Monoculars and Night Vision Scopes. The sale also covers other Infra Red items such as IR Illuminators, Class1 IR Lasers, and IR Signaling Devices. Save money on popular brands such as:
ITT Exelis
L-3 Electro Optical Systems
Laser Devices, Inc.
Princeton Tec
S&S Precision
Adventure Lights
ACR Electronics
SOCOM Chooses BAE SkeetIR Thermal Imager
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has awarded BAE Systems an $11 million contract to procure the SkeetIR thermal monocular.
The combat proven monocular can be used in a variety of modes. It serves in weapon clip-on, handheld, and helmet mount modes and piggy-back to provide visual augmentation for image intensified (I2) devices. This turns a simple I2 device into a fusion device. Additionally, because it is a thermal imager it can be used day or night and used to peer through smoke or obscurants.
“Our primary focus is to allow our operators to see the enemy before they’re seen, and the SkeetIR does just that,” said Vadim Plotsker, president of BAE Systems OASYS in Manchester, New Hampshire, where the devices are designed and produced. “The SkeetIR has undergone extensive Department of Defense review and testing and is often referred to as a game changing operational capability.”
The SkeetIR is one of the smallest and most versatile thermal imagers on the market. It fits within the dimensions of a credit card and it allows for seamless operational transition from an observation to a targeting device. These uncooled LWIR sights can be turned on and put into action in less than four seconds and are controlled by a combination of hot buttons and an intuitive menu. Calibration is quickly accomplished when needed and a red dot sight can be instantly boresighted with the SkeetIR. The SkeetIR also includes a red laser for target designation. Finally, the devices are configured in such a way that the firmware can be altered or upgraded as needed. In fact. they are working on increasing battery life and decreasing warm up periods.
BAE uses the same remote as Insight for laser activation so the UTM is backwards compatible with the PEQ-2A, PEQ-15, PEQ-16, PSQ-18, and M3X/M6X weaponlights. There is no need to purchase additional new accessories and if a cable is lost or damaged it is easily replaced from existing spares. Finally, to conserve power, the SkeetIR utilizes a Hall Effect Sensor to go into standby mode and eventually shut down when disconnected from its mount.
BAE Systems OASYS has expertise in thermal imaging technology, optical assembly design and manufacture, precision optical components, and rapid development of multi-mission use devices. The company continues to improve its systems providing customers with smaller, lighter, and lower power devices.
Having worked with the SkeetIR I can tell you that it is simple to use and greatly enhances situational awareness. Additionally, I really like the versatility of the sight’s various mountain options.
Note: This is an ITAR restricted item.
Caveat Emptor – Fake NVG Data Labels
Monday, March 12th, 2012
Several versions of stickers that mimic the markings on genuine AN/PVS-14/15 Night Vision Devices have hit the market. They are designed to be placed on resin models of the devices to enhance realism for MilSim players and reenactors.
However, because of the way they are being marketed by some, we encourage everyone to pay attention to several key features of any real night vision devices they purchase or are issued. It has come to our attention that there are unscrupulous vendors marketing shop built subpar versions of the NVGs using tubes of unknown quality. They may use these types of stickers to mislead buyers. Military issued systems should be ok unless someone tried to do a switcharoo or supply at the small unit level got a ‘good deal’ on additional systems. Be diligent in pre-combat inspections.
If you need actual devices, buy factory direct ITT units that come with factory ITT stickers serialized on the unit that match the enclosed pre-paid UPS labels along with RMA tags. There are numerous vendors that are trustworthy. The best advice when dealing with night vision is: ‘Cheap’ doesn’t just mean inexpensive.
PCAS – The Final Piece
Monday, March 5th, 2012We’ve mentioned the Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) program in the past. Remember the Vuzix Next Generation Display Technology we wrote about last Spring? It’s a major enabling technology but there’s still a lot going on.
Raytheon is the prime for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) PCAS program which is intended to allow the joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) the ability to rapidly engage multiple, moving and simultaneous targets within his area of responsibility. Additionally, the system will be designed to reduce collateral damage and potential fratricide to friendly forces. What’s more, PCAS is taking a ‘system-of-systems’ approach demonstrating the ability to digitally task a CAS platform from the ground.
DARPA’s been working the software, man-machine interface and JTAC portions of the program hard. The missing piece has been the aircraft in the loop. Recently, Aurora Flight Sciences was chosen to convert an A-10 CAS platform into an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) which may well be the most ambitious element of the program. Despite the Air Force’s long-term goal of retiring the most successful CAS aircraft ever built, ground forces are one step closer to controlling their own CAS. We foresee a day where ground force commanders own purpose-built CAS platforms controlled by non-rated JTACs.
