Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Danny Ewing Jr. · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain Use of this image does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

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forwardlookinginfrared

Night Vision Devices · United States · 1966

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forwardlookinginfrared

forward looking infrared Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Danny Ewing Jr. · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain Use of this image does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

MASS (Military Archive Scoring System) 63

* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment

Image Clarity

Detection Range

Resolution / Generation

Low-Light Performance

Durability

Battery Life

Low Weight

Field of View

Mount Versatility

Cost-Effectiveness

Methodology ↗ → Night Vision Devices ranking

Origin

United States

CategoryNight Vision Devices

EraCold War

In service1966

Operators16 countries

⊕ History

Data Quality87%

MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)

⊟ Night Vision Devicesranking ↗methodology ↗

Night Vision Devices MASS Rating

3/4

Cold War

24/26

All-Time

Night Vision Devices · 10 axes scored

Image Clarity

Detection Range

Resolution / Generation

Low-Light Performance

Durability

Battery Life

Low Weight

Field of View

Mount Versatility

Cost-Effectiveness

ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the night vision devices category.

01 / Overview

forward looking infrared

Category

Night Vision Devices

Country

United States

Production

1966–

Operators

16 countries

💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗

NIGHT VISION DEVICES · COLD WAR

PERFORMANCE/PRICE

UNIT COST (2025 USD)

—

MASS SCORE ↗

night vision devices category

ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the night vision devices category, regardless of era.

02 / Specs & Design

◎General3MOD.3

Optic Typethermographic camera
Service Entry Year1966
In ServiceYes

◈Night / Thermal2MOD.2

03 / History

SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service

1966Production started

years in service

countries operating

ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.

04 / Operators

Operator Countries16country

05 / MASS Score

NIGHT VISION DEVICES RANKING Night Vision Devices · Cold War

#22 1PN51 70 #23 1PN51-2 66 #24

forward looking infrared (this weapon) 63 #25

AN/PVS-5 59 #26

Zielgerät 1229 45

MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗

24NIGHT VISION DEVICES 3COLD WAR · NIGHT VISION DEVICES 1165UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS 22PERFORMANCE/PRICE · NIGHT VISION DEVICES

ⓘ Rankings are within theNight Vision Devicescategory.

📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE1terms

Thermal Sights

Thermal sights are infrared imaging devices that detect heat signatures to provide a visual display for target detection and navigation in low‑visibility conditions.

These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →