Emphasis on Night Missions Drives Demand for Imaging System

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Panoramic Night Vision Goggles (PNVG) for U.S. Air Force aircrews should be produced in steady numbers over the next several years to increase the visibility of crews during conditions of total darkness.>> According to the Pentagon, night missions include extensive ground operations, takeoffs and landings, and the visual identification of targets, all of which occur in the cover of darkness. The very nature of modern warfare ensures that night vision systems will be as necessary to carry out missions as the very aircraft in which they fly.>> Funding for procurement of the PNVG in the U.S. Defense Budget is handled through the "Night Vision Goggles" program. Under the FY09 budget, $120.7 million is budgeted through FY13 for the purchase of a variety of night vision systems for pilots, as well as ground crews, including PVS-7 and PVS-14 night vision goggles, as well as the PNVG. For FY09, the USAF will spend over $2 million for the system. While this is a decline from the previous year's $16 million, total funding amounts for subsequent years in the larger program indicate bigger numbers for the PNVG.>> Deliveries of the PNVG for Special Operations AC-130 and MC-130 aircrews are in progress and are expected to be followed by deliveries for A-10 and C-17 aircrews. Based on a projection of the current U.S. defense budget, an estimated 1,950 PNVG units will be produced over the 10-year forecast period.>> -ends->>>>>>>