NV goggles

NV Goggles (full name: Night Vision Goggles) are optoelectronic devices.

Overview

CSAT soldier with night vision activated.

NVGs are head-worn devices designed to intensify existing light. Throughout the series, NVGs have always represented a quintessential technological advantage for any modern army against low-tech enemies.

While night vision is activated, it is possible to see the lasers beams projected by weapon-mounted laser pointers. Likewise, it is also possible to spot the periodic blinking emitted by infrared strobes.

The main downside to NVGs stems from the limited field of view while they remain activated, even if they are of a non-monocular design. Notable exceptions include helmets worn by fixed-wing jet pilots in ArmA 3, as well as any panoramic vision helmets worn by some special operations units.

• ArmA: Cold War Assault
• ArmA: Armed Assault
• ArmA 2
• ArmA 3 (Standard)
• ArmA 3 (ENVG-II/NV)
• ArmA 3 (ENVG-II/TI WHOT)
• ArmA 3 (Compact)

ArmA: Cold War Assault

NV Goggles
Faction	United States Soviet Union Nogovan Partisans (Res.)
Variants	None
Games

In Cold War Assault, NVGs are seldom available and are only issued to U.S./Soviet vehicle crews and specific special operations units (i.e. U.S. Black Ops and Soviet Spetsnaz).

They offer a significant advantage over conventional grenade launcher flares as only the wearer will not risk exposing themselves unless the opposing side also retains access to NVGs.

ArmA: Armed Assault

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Night vision goggles are intended for observation and terrain orientation at night. They work by intensifying the already available light in conditions of low illumination, using, for instance, light from the moon or the stars. Library Description

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NV Goggles
Faction	U.S. Army SLA RACS
Variants	None
Games

In Armed Assault, NVGs are mostly used by U.S. Army soldiers. Some SLA troops, Especas SOF, pilots, and Royal Guards of the RACS do have access to a pair, but they are otherwise solely the domain of U.S. forces.

Functionally, they remain identical to their Cold War Assault predecessors and restrict the wearer's field of view upon activation. As before, they provide the same advantages over UGL-fired flares.

ArmA 2

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Night vision goggles are intended for observation and terrain orientation at night. They work by intensifying the already available light in conditions of low illumination using, for instance, light from the moon or the stars. Armoury Description

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NV Goggles
Faction	USMC CDF U.S. Army British Army ACR KSK Russian Armed Forces Takistani Army United Nations ION
Variants	None
Games

In ArmA 2, NVGs are more commonly available compared to in Armed Assault and are utilised by all Western BLUFOR factions with the exception of specific non-combat/support troops and less advanced BLUFOR-aligned factions.

However, aside from Russian officers, team/squad leaders, and Spetsnaz operatives, most REDFOR factions (including regular Takistani troops) do not have access to NVGs. For the majority of REDFOR units that are not the crews of armoured fighting vehicles, they continue to rely on flares or night vision scopes mounted on certain weapon platforms.

NVGs will now allow the user to see the flashes emitted by infrared strobes. The blinking from IR Marker Strobes can be seen from afar while IR Targeting Strobes can be "detected" by NVG-wearing infantry. Pilots flying aircraft armed with laser-guided bombs can also lock onto the latter, provided that they are within range of the strobe.

Additionally, IR beams projected by laser pointers can be seen clearly when NVGs are activated. This can allow friendly forces to visually point out targets, though it runs the risk of exposing the user's location if the opposite side also has access to night vision-capable equipment.

ArmA 3

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To use night vision, you need to have night vision optics mounted on a weapon, helmet or vehicle. Use IR flares and laser pointers to mark objects and locations when using night vision. They will remain unseen by the enemy but soldiers with night vision will be able to see them clearly. Field Manual

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In ArmA 3, NVGs are universally available to all BLUFOR, REDFOR, and INDFOR factions with the exception of a few non-state actor groups.

ArmA 3 is the first game in the series to feature multiple NVG variants rather a single universal model. Conventional NATO, AAF and LDF infantry for instance, wear basic binocular-type goggles. On the other hand, both Mediterranean/Pacific CSAT forces and Russian Spetnsnaz operatives utilise the Compact NVG, though it is essentially identical to its basic counterpart in all but appearance.

Fixed-wing aircrews and pilots retain access to helmets with integrated night vision capability. Unlike their externally-worn counterparts, the helmets provide a full unobstructed field-of-view upon activation. This also applies to CSAT SOF, though they wear ballistic-resistant helmets which offer the same enhanced vision capability that is directly integrated into the helmet itself.

Lastly, in addition to allowing the user to clearly see IR beams that are being projected from a laser pointer, NVGs also allow the wearer to see "invisible" light sources from IR flashlights.

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Standard

NV Goggles
Faction	NATO CTRG FIA (TEW) Loyalists CSAT AAF LDF
Mass	20
Variants	ENVG-II, Compact NVG
Games

The standard-issue NVGs are available to all primary factions with the exception of some guerilla sub-factions and conventional Pacific CSAT forces/Russian Spetsnaz operatives.

It weighs 20 "mass" units and comes in four camouflage varieties: Sand, Black, Olive, and Tropical.

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ENVG-II

This is a premium asset that requires ownership of the Apex expansion pack.

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ENVG-II - Mark 2 Enhanced Night Vision Goggles are all-in-one goggles used by members of CTRG forces consisting of TI white-hot and NV. They are relatively light and compatible with NATO gear. Field Manual

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ENVG-II
Faction	CTRG LDF
Mass	30
Variants	NV Goggles, Compact NVG
Games

NATO special operations units, mainly CTRG black ops and LDF pathfinders, don ENVG-II multi-vision goggles. They are available in three colour schemes: Black, Green or Grey. ENVG-IIs have a weight of 30 "mass" units.

One major difference to standard-issue NVGs is that they allow the user to switch between a night or white-hot thermal vision mode. However, ENVG-IIs are not considered to be panoramic and will not provide a fullscreen view of the wearer's surroundings.

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Compact NVG

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Next generation CSAT night vision combat googles. They are compatible with common CSAT helmets. They use multiple lenses for greater reliability and their power source can last a long time. Field Manual

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Compact NVG
Faction	CSAT Russian Spetsnaz
Mass	20
Variants	NV Goggles, ENVG-II
Games

The Compact NVG is a unique CSAT-exclusive derivative that is primarily utilised by Pacific CSAT forces and Russian Spetsnaz operatives.

Compact NVGs have a weight of 20 "mass" units and are available in four varieties: Arid, Urban, Tropic, and Green. As with the ENVG-II, Compact NVGs are not panoramic and will not provide the wearer with a fullscreen view of their surroundings.

ARMA Reforger

ARMA Reforger currently does not feature NVGs.

Gallery

Nogovan Partisan with an NVG (Cold War Assault)

U.S. Army Special Forces wearing NVGs (Armed Assault)

U.S. Marines with NVGs (ArmA 2)

Iranian CSAT soldier with a Compact NVG (ArmA 3)

Promotional image released for ArmA 3's ninth anniversary (as part of the so-called "Legendary Assets" series).

Trivia

NVGs in Cold War Assault are based on the real-world "PVS-5A" night vision goggle. They are strangely used by all sides, including with Soviet forces. This is completely unrealistic, as it would have made more sense for Soviet troops to be depicted using NVGs manufactured in the Eastern bloc (like the "PNV/PNW-57"). The NVGs in Armed Assault and ArmA 2 are directly based on the American-made "PVS-7B". As with NVGs in Cold War Assault, it is universally shared by all BLUFOR, REDFOR and INDFOR factions. This is also highly unrealistic as the Russian military at the time of Armed Assault's release mostly utilised Soviet-era weapon/handheld night vision-enabled optics and binoculars such as the "BN-3" (GRAU index code: 1PN93) or very rarely, the "PNV-10T" head-worn NVG. In addition, the PVS-7B was already phased out of service within the U.S. military in that same time period (2006-2012) and was only delegated to non-frontline units. Both American and British forces operating in Iraq/Afghanistan had already transitioned to the newer "PVS-14" monocular NVG (alternately known as the "HMNVS" in British service). The baseline NVG model shared by conventional NATO, Mediterranean CSAT, as well as the AAF/LDF in ArmA 3, is seemingly inspired by the real "PVS-15" binocular NVG in use with the U.S. military and several Western armies. On the other hand, the Compact NVGs in use with Pacific CSAT troops and Russian Spetsnaz utilise a completely fictional design, though it appears to draw some elements of its design from the real-world "PVS-21" low profile NVG. The ENVG-IIs used by CTRG operatives are also fictitious, with inspiration for its model seemingly inspired by concept artwork created by Alex Jessup. Although they originate from the Apex and Contact expansion packs, Compact NVGs in ArmA 3 are not considered to be premium content and can be equipped without the usual limitations associated with DLC assets. This does not apply to ENVG-IIs, however, as they are still classified as premium assets. At launch, AI units equipped with NVGs in Cold War Assault did not equip them automatically at night and would not unequip them during the day. This was eventually fixed after the release of Patch 1.10. Prior to Patch 1.06, Armed Assault's NVGs used a different reticle. Pausing the game and pressing the Alt-Tab keys to switch in and out of Armed Assault would also reset the player's eye accommodation. Before the release of Patch 1.08 for ArmA 2 (pre-Operation Arrowhead), colour sensitivity and blue shift would not be simulated properly if the player was in a darkened building or a dark night with minimal-to-no moonlight. Early in ArmA 3's Alpha, AI units would activate their NVGs far too early in the evening even when there was plenty of daylight. This was quickly fixed after Game Update 0.60 so that they only equip NVGs later in the evening (closer to dusk). When ArmA 3 initially launched in Alpha and throughout much of the Beta, both NATO and CSAT shared the exact same NVG. This was eventually changed when the game entered full release in Game Update 1.00, with all the main factions being given (at the time) faction-specific variants of the NVG. In ArmA 3, vehicle passengers originally did not have the ability to switch their NVGs on/off properly. This was fixed by the release of Game Update 1.50. However, a follow-up patch in Game Update 1.58 was still required to fully address the bug as it was still possible for both human players and AI-controlled units to be unable to toggle their NVGs. The information below details unused, pre-release or removed content. Unused Compact NVG (Black) icon. There is an unused texture, models, and icon for a Black version of ArmA 3's Compact NVG (Model names: o_nvgoggles_blk_f.p3d, o_nvgoggles_blk_off_f.p3d). Because this Black variant's models were not ported out of Apex's directory, attempting to use the models in a custom addon will classify it as a premium asset (unlike the standard Compact NVGs which are not DLC restricted).

External links

• Wikipedia: Night vision device