Once quite clunky, night vision goggles for military aviation has become so lightweight and powerful that it is shifting the battle paradigm for U.S. forces. Night has become day.

Now, night vision technology is considered an essential tool in military aviation, allowing military men and women to fly safely in almost total darkness.

How Does Night Vision for Military Work?

There are two ways to augment what a human can see in darkness or other obscured conditions: image enhancement (traditionally thought of as night vision) and thermal imaging.

With image enhancement, a particular scope utilizes a lens to capture light reflected from the stars or moon and lets it through an image-intensifier tube. Within that tube is a photocathode, which emits electrons when hit by light energy or photons.

With a photosensitive compound within, the tube turns a single electron into thousands in a cascading effect.

Afterward, the electrons hit a screen at the end of the tube, which was coated with light-emitting compounds called phosphors. These phosphors convert electrons back into photons, creating an image on the screen—usually green, as humans are thought to process images best with that color. An ocular lens allows the user to magnify and focus the image.

Speeding electrons up to hit a phosphor screen, where a glow can be created, works basically similarly as computers and old televisions that relied on cathode ray tubes.

Thermal imaging devices use a sensor called a microbolometer to read the difference in temperature between an object and its environment, creating an image of the object. The data from the microbolometer is sent to a display so the user can see the object.

Thermal imaging could sense the heat that’s coming off any object—be it a rock, a building, a truck, or even a human being. The created image is the same as the one on a TV set that’s in black-and-white.

The History of Night Vision for Military

The first-generation of devices for night vision were utilized at the start of World War II all the way to the Vietnam War’s beginning.

Much of the technological progress in night vision technology over the past five decades has been in producing lighter and more portable equipment, although visual acuity and efficiency have also been improved. The latest technology was named Generation I and proved much more effective for stealth in combat situations.

Nonetheless, Generation I’s reliance on ambient light was still problematic on nights without moonlight or during overcast weather. By the end of the 1900s, this problem was fixed in Generations II and III; both concentrated on amplifying tiny amounts of light through an image intensifier tube (instead of an image converter tube) and consistently providing clearer images in higher resolutions. These advanced NVDs continue to be used today in both military and civilian fields.

White Phosphor vs Green Phospor: What to Know About Night Vision Goggles for Military

Green and white phosphors are commonly used in modern night vision goggles and devices. Each has its own set of advantages that make it an ideal choice for specific situations.

Green and white phosphors combine functionality to enhance the image and make NVDs work efficiently in low-light conditions. Nevertheless, neither can cope with complete darkness. Having learned about the standard features of white and green phosphors, let’s now discuss their differences and critical advantages in more detail.

Advantages of Green Phosphor

To get an understanding of why NVGS is green, considering the main benefits of this color is reason enough. First, it should be noted that the human eye perceives night vision green light better. People could distinguish much more of its shades, which could affect the clarity and contrast positively of the image generated.

According to reviews from users of various types of night optics, models with green phosphor provide a visually better picture than optics with white phosphor. This doesn’t automatically mean that the second isn’t better than the first or vice versa, but for our eyes, being able to see a green-colored image is a more common option.

Another primary benefit of green phosphor optics is affordability. The fact that a lot of these devices are produced than models that have white phosphor proves this. Any product that has been oversaturated will definitely lead to decrease in price, which is the case with green phosphorus. Additional advantages include low false alarms and the ability to form a high-quality image under unfavorable operating conditions for night optics (for example, in heavy rain).

Advantages of White Phosphor

Aside from the classic night vision goggles with their green color, there are also others. The most commonly used alternative is devices with white phosphor. They were utilized later than the green phosphor models; this means they are considered to be more advanced and modern.

This is partially proven by the numerous advantages that owners of these night optics receive. Many people call the main advantage of obtaining an image in a more natural black-and-white color. Traditionally, it is easier for humans to perceive it than green, which increases comfort when using the device.

The next advantage is low power consumption. Models that utilize white phosphor are better at saving battery energy than devices that have green phosphor, letting night vision devices for flying work autonomously for longer. This will be very important in times where it is impossible to recharge. Also among the advantages is the ability to create high-quality images in the lowest possible light.

A Bright Future for Night Vision Goggles for Military

Night Vision Devices have shown themselves to be highly adaptable today and have advanced maneuvering in flying to a new standard of safety and protection. Once we had charged forward without hesitation into the night, now our military members are witnessing the power of technology to illuminate the darkness and surpass the physical boundaries of human capabilities.

With ongoing new applications for NVDs, research in this field keeps growing, leading to future improvements like panoramic and color night vision goggles. There is a lot to anticipate in night vision devices.