US Army Shows Off Night Vision Gear

FORT A.P. HILL, Va., April 19 -- US Army officials have demonstrated their latest night-vision battle technology for representatives from four NATO countries. The cooperative demonstration included visitors from the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Canada, and involved image intensification and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) technology that sees heat instead of light.
About 45 examples of new see-in-the-dark technology were presented for review, including gunsights, goggles and infrared trackers. The Army asserts that the new generation of night-vision goggles and forward-looking infrareds will be 20 percent to 50 percent more accurate and powerful than the equipment currently issued to troops worldwide. Some of the new devices have already been approved by the Army and will begin production early next year; others are still in the testing phase.