The Fiery Crucible of Night Vision Systems

0

Rate this Article: (5.0 Stars | 1 Vote)   Thanks for your rating!

The challenges in the area of Night Vision technologies and products remain constant in order to achieve greater mission capabilities. IDGA Editor Chris Archer speaks with Dr. Joseph Estrera, Senior VP & Chief Technology Officer, L-3 Electro-Optical Systems, about the current state of the Night Vision market, technology advancement and the need for reduced SWaP!

IDGA - What’s going on right now in the Night Vision community?

Dr Estrera - There is tremendous pressure to do more with less in light of governmental fiscal demands and shrinking budgets affecting the Night Vision community, as it has with the rest of the U.S. defense industry. However, the global threats and increasing instabilities in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia in the last year have not taken a break or reduced in ferocity. They have further increased and the need for greater mission capability in the area of Night Vision technologies and products remains a constant.

The challenges and unfulfilled needs further intensify for Night Vision equipment under the crucible of size, weight, and power (SWaP) demands. This “fiery” crucible fueled by competition, the maximum utilization of existing Night Vision inventory, and the global proliferation of older Night Vision equipment has placed a controlling upper limit on the forward progression of Night Vision technology and products to next generation devices. So the Night Vision community in the last year is working harder than ever to adapt and deal with these forces so innovation and growth remain strong in this community and a strong industrial base is available for U.S. and Allied Forces for ever increasing global mission and operational demands.

How has the discussion advanced since last year’s Night Vision Systems event?

Dr Estrera - Since Night Vision Systems 2010 there has been a rapid progressing in the area of reduced Night Vision size, weight, and power (SWaP) such as head-mounted Night Vision systems. An example of this is the U.S. Army’s optically fused Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) where multiple U.S. electro-optical system houses are developing and producing smaller and lower power fused image intensified and IR systems for the U.S. warfighter. The global long wave infrared industry has standardized and productionized a 17um based pixel sensor to introduce smaller and lighter weight Night Vision system to market. These are two examples of many.

The Night Vision industry has responded to the warfighter needs of the world, but these needs continue to change and adapt. So beyond the operational need for SWaP improvements in Night Vision the demands for greater system level performance remain a present and future priority …so we cannot let down our guard and the Night Vision industry remains diligent in both near and long term needs… 

Highlight some of the most important technology trends for the future?

Dr Estrera –

1). SWaP in optics in all spectral bands from UV –to visible/NIR-SWIR/MWIR and tremendous size, weight reductions are occurring in LWIR.

2). SWaP in Night Vision electronics…Low power image fusion electronic platforms that are less than a watt and board areas less than 1 square inch.

3). Small SWaP in sensors and displays…extremely miniaturized, environmentally hardened and ruggedized packages which have opened up new applications areas such as micro UAV and UGS platforms. …this is a hard intersection of militarized Night Vision devices with commercial miniaturized microelectronics as the actualization of Moore’s Law manifested in the optimized packaging of Night Vision devices. So the present successes of Night Vision devices are the continued growth of these devices in the area of reduced SWaP with the direct exploitation of COTS microelectronics combined with state-of-the-art electro-optical performance. 

What are you most looking forward to at the 6^th Annual Night Vision Systems event?

Dr Estrera - I’m eager to take on the role of moderator at this year’s event and will do my best to drive discussion and interactivity. 

The diverse program presented at this year’s conference. We will be presenting multiple Night Vision program areas from ground, sea, and aerial applications from developers to producers to mission requirement developers to actual equipment operators. We will be exploring all available angles and views in the area of Night Vision to give the conference attendee a rich informational perspective to comprehend the field, gain currency, and frame the most up to date information in this field. The conference attendees will enhance his or her ability to constructively participate, work, play, and conduct business in the exciting field of Night Vision technology and equipment. You will deeply explore you will be challenged, and most importantly I fully expect from this conference that you will definitely learn from the top experts, companies, and government agencies about the ever growing and always exciting Night Vision field. I am looking forward to seeing previous and new attendees at this year conference…

Contributor:   Joseph Estrera

You Should Check Out:

Chair Opening, Night Vision

Looking at the Sun: NVG Challenges with Dr. Joseph Estrera

Interview with Dr. Joseph Estrera on NVG technology