AN/PVS-5
TypePassive
Place of originUnited States
CategoryHead/helmet mountable
Service history
In service1972–present[1]
Used byUnited States Armed Forces
WarsVietnam War
Persian Gulf War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Production history
Designed1971
ManufacturerITT Industries
Litton Industries
VariantsAN/PVS-5, AN/PVS-5A, AN/PVS-5B, AN/PVS-5C
Specifications
Weight850 grams
Dimensions (L×H×W)6.5" x 6.8" x 4.7"
Resolution (lp/mm)>32 lp/mm
Mode of OperationPassive
II tubeMX-9916
Field of vision (°)40 degrees
Range of detection50m (Starlight) 150m (Moonlight)
System zoom
Generation2

The AN/PVS-5 is a dual-tube night-vision goggle used for aviation and ground support. It uses second-generation image-intensifier tubes. The United States Army still has PVS-5 on supply but are very rarely used. The AN/PVS-5 is based on the SU-50 which was a first-generation night-vision goggle adapted by the United States Air Force in 1971. From 1972 until 1990 the AN/PVS-5 was the mainstay in US Army night vision for aviation. The AN/PVS-5C was not approved for flight because of its auto-gated feature causing the goggle to shut off in bright light. For ground troops the AN/PVS-5 was the sole night-vision goggle until the adaptation of the improved AN/PVS-7. Photographic evidence from Operation Eagle Claw shows US military personnel at Desert One in Iran using in the AN/PVS-5 NVGs.

By today's standards the PVS-5 was a safety risk for pilots, issues such as a limited field of view, poor light amplification, inability to read maps, and its excessive weight made it difficult to fly while operating them. In 1982 tests were being made for a suitable replacement for the AN/PVS-5 specifically for aviation, this led to the adaptation of the AN/AVS-6 ANVIS in 1989. The ANVIS was the first night-vision goggle used by the United States Army specifically designed for aviation.

The designation AN/PVS translates to Army/Navy Portable Visual Search, according to Joint Electronics Type Designation System guidelines.

References

  1. McLean, William E.; Rash, Clarence E.; McEntire, Joseph; Braithwaite, Malcolm G.; Mora, John C. (May 1998). "A Performance History of AN/PVS-5 and ANVIS Image Intensification Systems in U.S. Army Aviation (Reprint)" (PDF). U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 October 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
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