Enclosure (2) to COMDTINST 1543.3
Earlier NVG systems provide 20/60 - 20/25 acuity under optimal conditions, but typically
degrade considerably as conditions worsen.
Operational Considerations
When you must operate in extremely dark conditions, a supplemental light source may be
required. Under most conditions, a near IR light sources is preferable to a visible light source
since visible light could give away the MNVD wearer's location and provide light for the
target. There are many supplemental IR light sources available to the law enforcement user.
The most common is a simple flashlight with an IR filter. Other supplemental IR light sources
include handheld IR illuminators and spotlights, IR chemlights of assorted sizes, IR
illumination ammunition, etc. Additionally, the PVS-14 is equipped with built-in IR
illuminators for close range requirements. Finally, there is a variety of IR beacons and
signaling devices that can be quite useful in a variety of tactical situations. However, it is
important to keep in mind that night vision devices are widely available to the general public as
well. We'll discuss this next.
In general, visual acuity when using supplemental IR illumination will be as good as or better
than without supplemental illumination, depending on the environmental conditions. The
distance one is able to see and identify a target can be increased substantially over the use of
visible light alone, but phenomena such as rain, fog, snowfall, smoke and the reflectivity of
the target will all play a role. For this reason, considering other operational aspects of the
mission at hand, SAR crews should employ supplemental IR illumination to the maximum
extent possible, especially if they suspect that the search targets may be wearing highly
reflective material, such as the reflective tape of a PFD.
Night vision technology has been classified into 4 "Generations" (0, 1, 2, & 3), each generation
contains various levels, only when there is significant engineering change to the technology is
there a new generation declared. This means that there are significant capability
differences within a generation. The systems that were the first introduced in Generation 3
show a great deal more blooming and have less visual acuity than the latest Generation 3
systems that have better acuity and a much better light handling capability. What is currently
available to the general public is the older Generation 0,1, 2 and early 3 technology. Due to
their old design they are subject to many limitations that do not hamper the most current
Generation 3 technology. The most current technology is limited for sale to government
agencies within the U.S. For this reason if the night vision is missing or lost it must be
reported immediately. You will not find the latest technology available for sale from normal
retail outlets. The Generations 3 technology they are selling is early Generation 3 and so in
many cases does not meet the current required specifications for many Coast Guard uses.
In general, visual acuity when using supplemental IR illumination will be as good as or better
than without supplemental illumination, depending on the environmental conditions. The
distance one is able to see and identify a target can be increased substantially over the use of
visible light alone, but phenomena such as rain, fog, snowfall, smoke and the reflectivity of the
target will all play a role. For this reason, considering other operational aspects of the mission
at hand, SAR crews should employ supplemental IR illumination to the maximum extent
6
Previous Page
