Electronic Weapons: May 4, 2005

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The U.S. Air Force has received the first of a new generation of night vision goggles. The ANVG (Advanced Night Vision Goggles) have a 95 degree field of view, compared to 40 degrees for the old ones. The 40 degree field of view was described as looking through a straw and required the user to look around a lot. This got old real fast, caused fatigue, and was responsible for some accidents. The first ANVGs are being given to the crew of AC-130 gunships and the MC-130 transports used by SOCOM (Special Operations Command). Both of these aircraft frequently operate at night. A-10 pilots will be the next to received them, along with crews on SOCOM helicopters. About 20 of the ANVGs are being delivered each month, and at least 400 will be received before a more advanced model is introduced. The current ANVGs cost about $10,000 each and run for twenty hours on two AA batteries. 

 

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