$43M to ITT for US Army Enhanced Night Vision Goggles

ITT’s ENVG
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ITT Corporation received $43 million in follow-on orders for Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG) [PDF] and associated spare parts from the US Army’s Research, Development and Engineering Command Acquisition Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground in MD.

The original contract (W91CRB-05-D-0012), awarded in 2005, has a potential value of $560 million. ITT partnered with Raytheon in developing the ENVG, which combines a number of night vision technologies.

Helmet-mounted ENVG
(click to view larger)

The ENVG, or AN/PSQ-20, is the first helmet-mounted night vision monocular to combine the strengths of both image intensification (I2) and infrared (IR, or thermal) technologies into one device, according to ITT. The US Army’s first unit equipped with ENVG was introduced in April 2008.

The ENVG optically combines an I2 image and a thermal image, allowing for improved mobility and situational awareness. The monocular uses I2 to provide target identification and thermal to provide improved target detection.

In June 2009, ITT and the Army tested a prototype of a digital ENGV, which uses digital thermal and low-light-level sensors to provide digitally fused imagery to the dismounted soldier. The digital ENGV will offer the ability to export and import digital imagery, connecting the dismounted soldier to the digital battlefield.