U.S. Army night vision experts needed advanced binocular infrared and image-intensification electro-optical binoculars to enable U.S. and allied warfighters to operate effectively at night. They found their solution from L-3 Insight in Londonderry, N.H.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., announced a $391.8 million three-year contract to L-3 Insight for the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B).
The ENVG-B project has been a somewhat secretive initiative with few details publicly released about its technologies and specifications because of the program’s sensitive nature.
L-3 Insight is one of four U.S. electro-optics companies building versions of the ENVG. The others are Harris Corp. (formerly Exelis) in Roanoke, Va.; BAE Systems Electronic Systems segment in Nashua, N.H.; and the DRS Technologies Imaging and Targeting Solutions (ITS) segment in Dallas. Army officials say L-3 Insight was the only bidder for the ENVG-B program.
The ENVG family represents helmet-mounted night-vision goggles that blend image intensification and longwave infrared sensors for combat at night, in bad weather, and in smoke and dust.
Image intensification amplifies available light from stars or other low-light sources, and while long-wave infrared detects temperature differences in objects to make humans, vehicles, and machinery stand out from their cooler backgrounds. Blending the two technologies in a multispectral imaging approach helps each sensor compensate for the weaknesses of the other.
Harris and L-3 Insight are building ENVG II, while BAE Systems and DRS are building ENVG III. Compared with previous versions of the ENVG, the ENVG III weapon sights also has improved resolution and a wider field of view. The ENVG III is a follow-on contract to previous ENVG I and ENVG II procurements.
