“The best NVG equipment for special forces”

Anyone who has ever looked through a “Quadeye” knows how different the world can look. The GPNVG comes from L3Harris Technologies, a US-headquartered global defense company with around 43,000 employees. The company primarily develops, produces and sells products in the areas of communications, electronic warfare and night vision optics. Drones are also part of the portfolio.

We talked to Sven Colin Rowley, Director Sales & Account Management Western Europe & NATO, Mike Gilroy, Director Business Development Integrated Vision Solutions and Jon Burnsed, Senior Scientist System Engineering at L3Harris, to find out what makes L3Harris products so special for European users.

SPARTANAT: Mr. Gilroy, what does L3Harris' night vision portfolio include?

Gilroy: Our portfolio includes modern Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), especially Binocular Night Vision Device (BNVD), BNVD-fused, Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggle (GPNVG), NOVA (Night Vision Optical Aid) and the Next Generation Aiming Lasers (NGALs) as a combined solution. Situational Awareness / augmented reality (AR), solutions - P.O.D. and CMNDO --are closing the loop to the communication systems domain.

SPARTANAT: The special forces of the Bundeswehr use, among other things, the Fusion Goggle Enhanced (FGE) and the GPNVG night vision goggles (Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggle) from L3Harris. Why are the products used by the special forces in particular?

Gilroy: Thermal overlay with the visible and near infrared bands from our night vision tubes, provides users two simultaneous capabilities. This enhanced capability combination enables the user to detect a threat at maximum range as well as in low visibility situations - such as dust, smoke, fog - and to decide whether to evade or engage (and neutralize) that threat. Like in many other European NATO nations, the special forces of the Bundeswehr are working on highest standards using the best equipment available on the market.

SPARTANAT: The Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular (ENVG-B) night vision fusion goggle is approved by the U.S. Army and is not currently available for direct commercial sale. Is it considered the most modern night vision goggles in the world, why?

Gilroy: That is fair to say. However, providing the BNVD-fused with the Compact Multi-Node Display Overlay (CMDNO) module capability offers a similarly advanced capability.

SPARTANAT: What is CMNDO and what can it do for the soldier?

Gilroy: The CMNDO is an inline module that provides augmented reality (AR) to fielded BNVD-Fused systems without having to replace the existing battery pack. The addition of the CMNDO module provides the soldier with increased situational awareness by offering a full colour overlay with video streaming capabilities and by utilizing commercial ultra-wideband to enable a networked soldier.

The module will be attached at the back of the combat helmet, instead of the normal battery pack. But a fused battery pack is integrated. Via cable it will be connected to the BNVD-F. there the soldier will get the AR overlay with a reality thermal overlay, all situational icons and information from his Battle Management System (BMS). Because the CMDNO module features a wired or wireless connection between the on-body-system and the google. This way the soldier can connect directly to larger networks via the commercial ultra-wideband (UWB). There are no emissions that can be seen or picked up by the enemy forces, as it is only for extreme short distances.

Through the On-Body System the soldier and his goggle are connected to the radio and the BMS. This way he gets all the necessary information, including GPS (headings and positions), digital compass headings, time, PLI (Position, Location, Information), Picture-in-Picture (e.g. from drones), a radar plot, battery indicator as well as a mode indicator. This was we bring the digitalized battlefield directly in front of the soldiers’ eyes.

SPARTANAT: What then differentiates the L3Harris solutions from those of competitors and what makes them stand out?

Burnsed: Gen 3’s much higher near-infrared (NIR) sensitivity over Gen 2 solutions, which is the type of illumination available at night in dark areas. Better gain life than Gen 2 making tubes last many times longer, extending service life and lowering overall lifecycle cost to the user. L3Harris unfilmed tubes being far more rugged and durable relative to filmed Gen 3 solutions – in regards of drop/shock damage, high light exposure. Higher gain and much reduced halo effects that help you see clearly in both ultra-dark environments and mixed/urban scenarios.

L3Harris is only using Gen 3 unfilmed tubes, that is what stands out.

SPARTANAT: The topic of digitalization is important in all areas of the armed forces and police. Thanks to digitalization, an information advantage is achieved, a rapid sensor-to-shooter cycle is established, and overall, this provides a faster reaction time for the operator. What is happening in the area of digitalization in night vision technology?

Rowley: The topic of digitalization is now addressed with our new BMS AR capabilities where the communication link now also closes for night vision. By offering fusion glasses with the additional digital thermal channel, digital data can now also be brought to the glasses. We use this possibility to visualize BMS data in a 3-dimensional AR picture, which is of course provided via the communication network. This is realized the so called CMNDO module product. A very useful tool, for the SOF community but also for the standard soldier if executing joint missions at night. The connection to the helmet takes place via encrypted short-range radio (based on Bluetooth) so that the soldier's ability to move is not disturbed by a cable connection.

SPARTANAT: Where can this interesting capability be witnessed?

Rowley: L3Harris is planning several events to showcase the CMNDO module over the coming months. I’m happy to facilitate corresponding links to military users interested in the capability.

SPARTANAT: In Germany and other countries, L3Harris relies heavily on local partners. What are these in Germany in the field of night vision and why do you rely on this partner approach?

Rowley: We do both direct and indirect engagement with customers, based on the country and specific project of requirement. However, we widely work with local representatives to maximise local customer support and engagement. The approach is in line with our general international partnering approach.

L3Harris is available in Germany from JK DEFENCE (radio) and IEA MIL-OPTICS (night vision).