The Indian Army had, on 11 February 2019, issued two requests for information (RFI) for equipping thousands of assault rifles with two different types of night sights to bolster the night-fighting capabilities of its soldiers.
The Army has launched a hunt for image intensifier (II) and thermal imaging (TI)-based night sights for a total of 56,000 7.62X51 mm assault rifles, according to the RFIs. II-based night sights amplify ambient light for detecting targets, while TI sights spot targets by their body heat. The Army wants 40,000 II-based night sights and 16,000 TI-based night sights.
This is part of the Army’s effort to make up huge deficiencies in night fighting capabilities
Requirements of NVDs and EO Devices
An essential requirement is for the soldier to use his weapon sight for surveillance. The power source for the II sights should preferably provide for continuous surveillance, whereas, for the TI-based sights power would be required for confirmatory and not continuous role. Detachment of soldiers should also be able to estimate range, wind speed and altitude.
Recent Developments
• SIG 716 assault rifles are under delivery. They require reflex, telescopic, II and TI sights.
• Reflex, telescopic, II and TI scopes are required for 5.56x45mm carbines and 7.62x51mm light machine guns (LMG), whose procurement process through fast track procedure (FTP) is under progress.
• Telescopic sights and night scopes are required for balance quantity of LMGs for which Request for Proposals (RfP) has been issued.
• Night scopes are required for .338 sniper rifles, whose procurement process is under progress.
• Acceptance of necessity (AoN) for telescopic sights for assault rifles and thermal sights for medium machine guns has been granted by the Defence Acquisition Council.
• A case for night sights (TI) for ASG 30 automatic grenade launcher is at the pore-AoN stage.
• A case for TI sights for 84mm rocket launcher (RL) is at the pre-AoN stage.
Requirements for Small Arms
In the case of close quarter battle (CQB) weapons, ie, for ranges under 300 metres, the Infantry is looking for reflex sights with magnifier (3x) for employment during day and II-based ‘clip on’ sights for night fighting (with Figure of Merit (FOM) > 1700).
For longer range weapons, ie 300-800 metres, the Infantry is looking for telescopic sights (4x or 5x) for daylight employment and TI sights 9’clip on’ or standalone) for night fighting. Specifications should be FPA format minimum 640×480 pixels and pitch 17/12 microns.
For support weapons like LMGs, MMGs, etc, the Infantry is looking for Integrated Day complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) & Night (TI) sights, ballistic computers, GPS, Laser range finder and digital magnetic compass (DMC), requiring minimum or no modification to the weapon to bring it into use.
Night Fighting Enablement Road Map
Passive night sights (PNS) for small arms (SA) which are in service have a FOM of 950. Their maximum range is 200 metres with moonlight conditions. For supporting weapons weapon sights available are bulky. For surveillance, the PNVGs and PNVBs which are in service have poor ergonomics and performance. The hand-held thermal imagers (HHTI) in use are bulky and noisy.
In the short term, the Infantry wants to increase the scales of TI and II devices by 10 times; go for increase in the FOM of short-range II devices to 1700 and of long range TI devices to 12 microns. For support weapons too, it would like to go scale the TI devices and opt for ‘clip on’ and indigenous fire control system (FCS). In the case of surveillance devices, it wants substantial increase in their scaling, besides silent and light HHTI (uncooled), integrated LRF, GPS and DMC.
In the long term, the as far as night sights go, Infantry plans to review the QRs (min FOM 2200), explore SMART sights and increase the level of indigenisation through R&D. For support weapons, Infantry wants customised solutions through R&D, aiming for development of network integration and use of artificial intelligence (AI). For surveillance devices, Infantry wants industry to provide data transmission and networking options as well as AI enhanced devices.
Future Upgrades
For the infantry, exotic devices like Panoramic Goggles, Head-up Display and data connectivity of individual devices is part of their future plans. So also in the case of surveillance devices, devices with fusion technology, HHTI with LRF and GPS, devices based on short wave infra red (SWIR), data storage and connectivity are part of projected planning and not immediate needs.
R&D for NVDs
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is currently developing night vision equipment for the Indian Army tank crew. It has supplied 300 TI-NVDs for T-72 tanks and around 2000+ are on the way to production. The range of these devices is around 3 km and DRDO is currently working on NVDs for commanders of T-90 tanks.16 The NVDs for T-90 tanks could have a vision of 4 km and will help in better battle surveillance, acquisition and firing on targets. These NVDs are being jointly produced by Bharat Electronics Limited, Machilipatnam and OFB Dehradun.
Whether an equipment will work during hot weather conditions in India or not should be the first parameter to be tested when acquiring foreign systems. DRDO has tried to keep its pace with new emerging technologies. DRDO understood the potential of IR (infrared) based instruments and was able to successfully develop active and passive IR systems, thermal imaging and low light television systems.
Many types of devices have been successfully developed for use by the artillery, infantry and armoured corps. Passive NVDs like Passive Night Sight for Anti-tank weapon, Passive Night Observation Device for Arty OP, Passive Night Vision Binocular and Driver’s Passive Night Periscope have been successfully developed by IRDE, Dehradun and are under production at different production centres in the public/private sector.
Indian military has decided to increase engagement of NVDs with AI (Artificial Intelligence). An AI-based NVD mounted on a helmet could capture target movements in an area, alert a user through vibrations, and provide information through an attached wrist band. AI-enabled products and AI-based tools for sensor data analysis, predictive maintenance, and situational awareness have been developed by (Defence Public Sector Undertakings) DPSUs like Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL). An Rs 73.9 crore project has been sanctioned under Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) to build AI-based solutions to improve intelligence collation and analysis capabilities of Indian defence.
There are a few laboratories and research organizations in India that are involved in the development work of NVDs. Some of these are as follows.
1) Opto Electro Factory, Raipur (OFB) is one of the production units of Ordnance Board under the Ministry of Defence, India located in Dehradun Valley. It offers a wide range of electrooptics instruments and laser based sighting systems for meeting the requirements of military, para-military and special armed forces. Its key products include Passive Night Vision Goggles 102A, Driver’s Passive Night Periscope for T-55 Tank, Bino Night Vision Passive Cased 101A, Passive Night Sight for AK-47.
2) Instruments Research & Development Establishment (IRDE), a research laboratory of DRDO, designs, develops and conducts research in optical and electro-optical instruments for the defence services. Its key products are Gap Measuring Device Mk III, Electro-optical Fire Control System for Naval Ships, Helmet Mounted Thermal Imaging Camera (HMTIC), and Light Weight Portable Laser Target Designator for Air Force.
Comments
Every soldier wants to “own the night.” To provide this capability, the Ministry of Defence has listed its requirements in the TPCR, which amounts to $2.3 bn. A number of Requests for Information have been floated. But our processes are abysmally slow and warped. There are shortcomings in our R&D, manufacturing processes are shoddy, newer technologies are either beyond reach – all this results in time and cost overruns and when the troops get the equipment, there are complaints about quality.
That said, there is plenty of talent and capability available in the country to deliver state-of-the-art night vision devices. Many companies in India, even start-ups, have supplied such equipment to the United States Army and others around the world. There must be something fundamentally wrong with our procurement process, if the same companies are not found fit to supply to the Indian armed forces. Blame it on L1 mentality!
It is also inexplicable that only one item of night vision devices is listed by the Defence of Defence Production for feasibility study – on Night Fighting Control System for AGS-30 – as a Make II project.
Ground warfare waging capabilities depend upon whether you have low-, modest- or high-quality night vision devices. Pairing night vision sights with platforms like missiles and fighting vehicles drives up the threat level, which is true for both sides.
The air force, with advanced attack aircraft, sophisticated navigation and targeting sensors and highly capable ground surveillance radars, gets all its night fighting capability as part or original equipment. In combined and all-arms synchronised and joint warfare it is important for the night fighting capabilities of all components to be compatible and equal. Mismatched forces cannot launch deep attacks based on near-realtime intelligence data, nor operate at night and in adverse weather, and strike throughout the entire depth of the battlespace simultaneously. Unfortunately, the Army, even for low end purchases like night sights for assault rifles, light machine guns, and rocket launchers, orders add-ons separately – either indigenously developed or retrofitted – which leads to problems later. An example was the go-ahead given by the Defence Acquisition Council for thermal night sights for assault rifles on 28 November 2019.
Night vision skill and training go hand-in-hand. It is not enough to just provide IR and thermal night vision devices to the soldiers. Using them to fight at night and defeat the enemy requires changes in field craft, tactics and, more importantly, light discipline, greater awareness, similar to daylight manoeuvring. The enemy too, even with older generation night vision equipment see you in the dark, denying the advantage you have. Just a few devices in the enemy’s hands can change the calculus.
Equipping soldiers selectively, on as required basis, will not instil the discipline and the expertise to use the devices. Transforming a force into a night-capable effective and lethal unit requires changes in training – where soldiers walk and how they walk, choosing to take cover and concealment, operating with more general tactical discipline and so on. The change must be wholesale and comprehensive. Hence, the importance of getting and equipping the force in adequate numbers so as to make it a second habit.
The bottom line is that all soldiers who have to fight at night and their personal weapons must have night fighting capability, all platforms used for night manoeuvres must have the capability and all equipment used in joint warfare or combined arms concept must be night capable. The sooner, the better.
Generation of NVDs
With several technology advancements, NVDs have evolved from Generation 1 to Generation 3+. They are discussed as under:
Generation 1: Generation 1 is the most common technology sold. It is the most popular owing its low cost in comparison to Gen 2 and Gen 3 . Generation 1 NVDs generally allow a person to see out 75 to 100 yards depending on conditions. It relies on an ambient light sources rather than an infrared light sources. Some common Gen 1 NVDs are AN/PVS-1 Starlight scope, AN/PVS-2 Starlight scope, PNV-57E tanker goggles, PAS 6 Varo Metascope.
Generation 2: Contrary to logic, Generation 2 NVD are not half way between Gen 1 and Gen 3 in terms of ability. Gen 2 equipment are much closer to Gen 3 than Gen 1 technology. In fact, Gen 2 is often considered optimum, owing their exceptionally good performance and reasonable price compared to Gen 3 and Gen 3+ devices. Generation 2 uses an improved image-intensifier tube resulting in a much brighter image quality.15 Examples include, AN/ PVS-3 Miniaturized, AN/PVS-4, AN/PVS-5, SUPERGEN, PNV-10T.
Generation 3: Gen 3 NVDs are currently the gold standard in night optics technology. With this technology one can expect exceptional performance and 10,000 hours plus image tube life. This technology allows a unit to operate effectively in areas that have too much light for a standard or non-autogated device to function like urban areas with street lights and house lights. Third-generation night-vision systems have the same micro plate as Gen 2. In addition, they also use cathode to improve image quality. Examples include, AN/PVS-7, AN/NVS-7, AN/PVS-10, AN/PVS-14, AN/PNVS-14, CNVS-4949, PN-21K.
Generation 3+: Gen 3+ or 4 is the latest generation available and they use film-less image tubes to improve performance. This autogated technology allows a user to achieve high performance in light polluted areas and do not shut down in bright surroundings. it is an improvement over the Generation 3 in terms of less image noise and the ability to operate with a luminous sensitivity of around 700. Examples include, AN/PVS-22, NVS-22.
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Sights and EO Devices Required
The infantry’s requirements, based on scaling of devices is huge. The following table shows the enormity of the requirements and the numbers for which procurement action has been initiated:
Type Required Procurement
Initiated
Carbine (II) 130,000 40,000
Rifle (TI) 90,000 19,000
Rifle (II) 180,000 40,000
LMG (TI) 27,000 5,000
LMG (II) 12,000 2,300
RL (TI) 15,000 3,500
MMG (TI) 5,000 1,500
EO Devices
PNVG (II) 100,000 17,000
PNVB (II) 30,000 20,000
HHTI (Cooled) 8,000 7,500
HHTI (Uncooled) 12,000 0
