APRIL 7--ITT Industries Night Vision (ITT; Roanoke, VA; www.ittind.com) announced a contract award from the US Army Research, Development & Engineering Command Acquisition Center, Unique Missions Division, for enhanced night-vision goggles (ENVGs). The contract has a potential estimated value of $560M during a five-year period, and the Army has initially exercised the base award for program year one of $10M.
The ENVG optically combines an image intensification (I2) image and next-generation infrared (IR) image, allowing for improved mobility and situational awareness�through clear target identification (I2) and improved target detection (IR). "This contract win marks another milestone in our quest to remain at the forefront of vision-enhancing technology," said ITT vice president & director of business development Larry Curfiss. "We are committed to the continuous advancement of our technologies so warfighters can do their jobs more safely and effectively."
While I2 and IR technologies have allowed the US military and its allies to own the night for years, both technologies have strengths and limitations. The ENVG combines the strengths of both technologies into one unit, allowing soldiers to complete their missions more effectively, even when confronted by low-light conditions or obscurants such as smoke and fog.
To make this advanced technology a reality, ITT took its I2 and integration experience and partnered with Raytheon, which supplied the IR expertise and components. The initial units will be used by Program Executive Office Soldier--the organization tasked with developing, producing, fielding and sustaining everything that the soldier wears, carries, and operates--for testing purposes. The ENVGs will be sent through a rigorous qualification process to ensure they are ready to be fielded. The testing is expected to last through April 2006.
