If you are operating in a low-light environment, then one thing you don’t want to leave behind is your Night Vision Google (NVG) or Night Vision Device (NVD). However, there are some people who, for some reasons, have a thing or two against using NVGs. There are also some who do not just love the idea of being tied down to one gear. So, are there any other alternatives if you don’t want to make use of the regular NVGs?

Surprisingly, there are! Tons of them in fact.

• The Panoramic Night Vision Googles (PNVGs)

For starters, the PNVG is a product of an experiment conducted by the United States Air Force. It provides wearers with double the user’s field of view. With the PNVGs, you get up to 95° by using four 16 mm image-intensifier tubes. This is unlike the more standard two 18 mm tubes.

Today, the PNVGs are in service with A-10 Thunderbolt II, MC-130 Combat Talon and AC-130U Spooky aircrew. However, after more developments, the PNVGs later evolved to become the Ground Panoramic Night Vision Goggles (GPNVG-18) which is popular with special forces.

• The Enhanced Night Vision Googles (ENVGs)

Designed by ITT, the Enhanced Night Vision Googles (ENVGS) is also known as the AN/PSQ-20. Just like the Northrop Grumman Fused Multispectral Weapon Sight, this device combines the use of thermal imaging with image intensification.

• Ceramic Optical Ruggedized Engine (CORE)

The world first got to know about the Ceramic Optical Ruggedized Engine (CORE) technology in 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV by Armasight. CORE produces higher-performance Gen 1 tubes. The CORE tubes are made of ceramic plates made with ceramic and metal alloy, unlike the regular glass one that you would find in standard Gen 1 tubes. Amazingly, CORE has improved edge distortion, optimized photo sensitivity as well as resolutions that can get as high as 60 lp/mm. Regardless of its remarkable features, CORE is still considered as Gen 1. This is majorly because it does not utilize a microchannel plate.

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