Article: New and Emerging Use Cases For Night Vision Devices

WHY NIGHT VISION HAS BeCOME MORE THAN JUST A TACTICAL TOOL

The increase in demand for night vision devices is reaching far past traditional tactical teams as more and more specialty teams are seeing Night Vision Devices (NVD’s) as a crucial piece of operational equipment. Advancements in night vision technology and increased pressure in today’s climate is showing the value of having modern NVD’s available to your law enforcement agency.

No longer just a tool for tactical teams – night vision technology should be considered an essential and versatile tool for both mission success and officer safety. Currently, Gen 3 devices are the best in the market when it comes to night vision and give the clearest and brightest images, the best low-light performance, and the best resolution. They also come with an operational lifetime capacity of up to 10,000 hours, doubling that of Gen 2. The addition of white phosphorus technology also improves optical clarity, contrast and give a more natural image than the traditional green. This is very important when it comes to identification and situational awareness, which is paramount for law enforcement.

NVD’s not only help in identifying targets but also improving officer safety by giving officers the upper hand in nighttime or low light scenarios. Traditional flashlights/white light can add unnecessary risk of exposing officers by revealing their location. With night vision, officers can remain obscured at their allotted position.

Law Enforcement teams that can benefit from night vision technology:

Surveillance

On top of the ability to continue the operation after dark, NVD’s help in covert surveillance when an individual’s appearance and facial characteristics must be discerned to identify the individual. This is opposed to thermal devices that would struggle differentiating people and objects. Paired with a camera and lenses as part of your surveillance kit, NVDs allow for better, clearer records in court for identification purposes.

Public Order

The increase in occupational style protests have resulted in new challenges for public order teams when operating at night. Public Order teams cannot lose overwatch when the sun goes down and NVD’s allow units to properly monitor activity throughout the night, scan for threats and identify possible weapons.

CONTAINMENT

Night Vision can play a critical role in successful operations for containment teams. NVD’s can help officers with coordination and deployment in low-light scenarios. The ability to see in low-light scenarios increases intelligence on the situation and provides scope/context for the situation. The addition of beacons can also be deployed for an even greater level of detail. For example, one team can have an IR strobe while the other can have a constant beam.

SEARCH & RESCUE

Every minute counts when it comes to search and rescue, and teams cannot afford to be racing against the sun. NVDs give search teams the ability to double their operational capacity, allowing teams to search day and night. IR markers can once again be used to increase efficiency by marking positions and indicating areas that have already been searched.

Maritime

Often overlooked aspect when it comes to night vision is its use in the marine operation environment, whether DFO, border security or law enforcement. White light can only travel so far, an NVD (especially paired with an IR illuminator) can greatly aid when it comes to smuggling interdiction, customs enforcement and other boat operations.

There are countless examples of the effectiveness of Night Vision Devices. A tactical team in Ontario successfully used Night Vision to great effect when responding to a firearm related domestic violence incident.

Over the course of the argument between husband and wife, the intoxicated husband got increasingly aggravated to the point of pulling a firearm on the victim. The victim was able to flee the residence and contact the police, leaving the armed subject in the house alone. The incident took place in the dark of night at a rural, lightly populated area. Upon arrival of the tac team, the residence was contained, and efforts were made to initiate communications with the subject.

In addition to containment, the team set up an Immediate Action team concealed tight to the residence. This movement was conducted utilizing night vision equipment. Attempts to initiate communication with the subject yielded negative results. As a result, members of team conducted a further recce of the residence and were able to make observations through windows with the assistance of the night vision devices aided by a BE Meyers MAWL IR illuminator.

The subject was located passed out on a couch in the basement with a rifle approximately 10 feet away from him as well as an open, stocked gun cabinet. The residence was in darkness with the exception of a television that provided little illumination. Law enforcement was able to maintain observations while plans were approved through incident command.

While maintaining observations on the subject, the Immediate Action team quietly gained entry to the residence. Members were able to maneuver utilizing only night vision devices, comforted by the fact that the recce team maintained observations of the subject through their NVD’s. The immediate action team moved to the basement and took physical control of the subject awakening him from his sleep and the subject was arrested without incident.

These types of barricade incidents routinely extend many hours until communications are established and the subject is located. More importantly; an intoxicated, armed, barricaded subject is unpredictable, and any movement police can limit is very beneficial for everyone’s safety.

In this case, members were able to safely and discretely maneuver, locate, and ultimately arrest the subject in darkness. This could not have been possible without the night vision devices and was greatly aided by the IR illuminators.

Traditionally, handheld monocular devices like the PVS-14 had been the acceptable standard for NVDs but depending on your needs, dual-tube, binocular NVGs, such as the BNVDs from Night Vision Devices may be more suitable. Like illustrated above, handheld PVS-14s give you the ability to clip on other devices like lenses and cameras – but when used with your eye, just one eye, it can be a big strain on that specific eye. Whereas, BNVD’s allow you to be hands free, increase depth perception, situational awareness and allow the versatility of using additional handheld devices. Rampart can help identify the appropriate device for your agency.

When evaluating NVD’s, Rampart recommends products from Night Vision Devices. Night Vision Devices, a U.S. Veteran Owned Business, is the source for the highest quality US manufactured night vision binoculars, monoculars, weapon sights, night vision parts and service in the industry.

NIGHT VISION DEVICES

BNVD - SG

The NVD-BNVD-SG Binocular is a dual tube goggle with gain control. The BNVD-SG operates with a single gain control knob that controls both eyepieces simultaneously. Depending upon the amount of ambient light, the user can adjust the tube brightness (gain) lower to compensate for overly bright conditions or to increase the gain under extreme dark conditions.

NIGHT VISION DEVICES

BNVD - ULTRA LIGHT

At only 475 Grams, the UL BNVD-SG, ultra light dual tube goggle with Single Gain Control incorporates new high performance optics that are not only much lighter, but also offer higher performance than standard optics. Currently the AN/PVS-14 and most other night vision systems, use optics which were only designed for green (P43) phosphor image tubes. However these new BNVD optics were designed specifically to be optimized for both White (P45) and Green (P43) image tubes.

NIGHT VISION DEVICES

PVS - 14

The PVS-14 is the all around best multi functional night vision monocular available. Head or helmet mounted, the PVS-14 allows the user to retain their night adapted vision in one eye while viewing their surroundings through the illuminated eyepiece of the PVS-14. The new battery housing completes the perfect package by allowing the user to power off the unit when in an upright position and power on when flipped down.

COMPATIBLE ACCESSORIES

Rampart also carries a variety of accessories that pair with NVDs to get the most out of your equipment. Contact us today to learn more about NVDs and compatible accessories.

BE MEYERS

MAWL DA

The MAWL®-DA (Modular Advanced Weapon Laser – Direct Action) is a high power infrared and visible green aiming and illumination laser for individual carbines. Offering improved ergonomics, interface, and performance, the MAWL®-DA has been engineered from the ground up around the needs of the modern night fighter.

BE MEYERS

KIJI

KIJI™ is the most powerful, modular, VCSEL-based infrared laser illuminator commercially available. A Class 3R laser device, similar to the illuminator performance of the MAWL-DA, the KIJI K1-3˚ emits up to 150mw, and the KIJI K1-10˚ emits up to 350mw of flawless infrared laser illumination.

STREAMLIGHT

SUPER TAC IR

The IR Super TacTM is an extremely high performance CR123A Lithium battery-powered hand held active illuminator. The illuminator features the latest in high power infrared LED technology for long range illumination combined with a push button momentary or constant “on” tail cap switch for one handed operation.

NOROTOS

NVG MOunt

The Standard Helmet Mount clips into any helmet shroud that has a universal interface such as the Norotos Universal Shroud, MICH or PASGT front bracket assembly or other brand standard shrouds.