Image Intensifier Compatible Thermal Imaging System

We will evaluate at least three innovative concepts of upgrading legacy Image Intensified Night Vision Goggle (NVG) systems to optically fused I2T/LWIR systems or Thermally Upgraded Night Vision Goggles (TUNVG). Our focus will be to maximize the use of deployed hardware while integrating the thermal capability in a way which best satisfies the need of the war-fighter. A key goal in our effort will be to identify a solution which is not simply technically feasible, but is producible and can be deployed in volume rapidly and at a low cost. Each concept for retrofitting the units will be evaluated on paper based upon their individual merits. The evaluation criteria will consist of key system drivers such as cost, weight, power, fields of view, range characteristics of each sensor individually as well as overlaid (combined). We will also evaluate the logistics associated with retrofit of fielded systems, ease of reconfiguration, spares, maintainability and reliability. We will select at least one concept to be built and evaluated against key performance parameters (KPPs). We propose to prototype our concepts for upgrading NVGs using the PVS-14 monocular NVG as the experimental platform.