The Importance of NVIS Technology
In today’s fast-evolving defense landscape, maintaining visibility without compromising stealth is paramount during night missions. To achieve this, advanced display technologies must seamlessly integrate data and images from various camera, sensor, and communication sources and maintain compatibility with night vision equipment.
These technologies that integrate with Night Vision Goggles (NVGs), provide situational awareness while concealing a user’s position. NVGs amplify ambient light and NIR energy to work effectively. Therefore, other lighting and displays in proximity must be compliant with the MIL-STD-3009, the U.S. military standard that defines the performance for aircraft lighting and display equipment. Effective operations in low light conditions are dependent on attenuating light emitted within specific wavelengths. Displays that are compatible with NVIS use specialized LEDs, dimming systems, and optical filters to minimize interference with NVGs, while maintaining readability for human operators.
NVIS technology is essential for maintaining stealth, safety, and mission effectiveness, whether in the cockpit of an aircraft, naval vessel, or a ground vehicle.
Dimming Capabilities
Very precise dimming is critical for NVIS environments – NVIS-compatible displays typically feature dual mode backlighting with high brightness luminance for day time viewing and low light dimming capabilities to avoid NVG blooming and glare in low light conditions. This helps preserve the user’s night-adapted vision while maintaining operational readability.
NVIS LEDs
NVIS-compatible LEDs are engineered specifically to emit light in certain wavelengths that avoid interference with NVG operation. Unlike standard LEDs, NVIS versions are modified to minimize near-infrared output and to stay within defined chromaticity values and radiance limits. This modification allows displays to remain visible to the naked eye while also also operating effectively with NVGs.
Optical Filtering
Specialized optical filters are integrated into NVIS compatible lighting, displays and backlight systems to block out wavelengths that would be too bright or disruptive under NVG use. While ensuring compliance with NVIS radiance standards, they often work in conjunction with NVIS LEDs to achieve full compatibility.
The Challenge with Current Solutions
Though display solutions have become increasingly integrated into military systems, most commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) tablets, laptops, and touchscreens are not designed with NVIS compatibility in mind. COTS devices emit infrared and near-infrared light and often cannot be rapidly dimmed resulting in degraded imagery or compromise stealth.
NVIS-compatible displays are designed for use with night vision imaging systems, ensuring critical visual information remains readable without interfering with night vision goggles (NVGs). These displays emit light that is carefully managed in terms of intensity and spectral output to meet stringent MIL-STD-3009 requirements.
Custom Designs and Configurations
No two missions are alike – that’s why NVIS compatible displays are often tailored to specific applications, including cockpit instruments, tactical vehicle displays, and handheld devices.
Custom configurations include dual-mode operation, touch screen integration, and environmental hardening.
Enter iSafeNight: A Smarter, Safer Solution
Developed to meet the demand for adaptable, field-ready NVIS solutions, Cevians presents iSafeNight. This filter system converts devices into MIL-STD-3009 compliant displays, offering a safe and efficient path to NVIS compatibility without requiring hardware modification. Supporting the growing trend of using COTS displays for military applications, iSafeNight filters are designed specifically for military and aerospace environments. iSafeNight utilizes proprietary polymeric materials that blocks IR and near-IR light, and enhance display contract while maintaining full functionality of the device.
iSafeNight is ruggedized with a wide operating temperature, abrasion resistance, and impact resistance. iSafenight is compatible with many tablets, monitors, and phones, including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, and more, delivering operational agility without compromising compliance.
Cevians – Future of Safer Night Operations
Missions are becoming increasingly data-driven and reliant on technology; NVIS-compatible solutions, such as Cevians iSafeNight, are shaping the future of night operations. iSafeNight expands the capabilities of teams while ensuring they meet critical safety and visibility standards.
With a commitment to innovation, Cevians is helping to define the next generation of defense and aerospace operations, empowering teams with cutting-edge display solutions.
