Night Vision Systems - Eng Dev

Mission — Night Vision Systems - Eng Dev source

A portion of this funding line is directly aligned to the Army Soldier Lethality Modernization Priority in support of situational awareness for the Close Combat Soldier. This program element provides night vision/reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition technologies required for United States defense forces to engage enemy forces twenty-four hours a day under conditions of degraded visibility due to darkness, adverse weather, battlefield obscurants, foliage and man-made structures. These developments and improvements to high performance night vision electro-optics, radar, laser, and thermal systems and integration of related multi-sensor suites will enable near to long range target acquisition, identification and engagement to include significant fratricide reduction, which will improve battlefield command and control in "around-the-clock" combat operations. Project BQ6 focuses on transitioning demonstrated technologies that bring improvements to provide Soldiers and Squads a single platform for increased lethality, mobility, and situational awareness to achieve overmatch against our current and future adversaries. Funded efforts will accelerate the implementation of components, Heads Up Display (HUD) improvements, terrain shared coordinate data and processing, algorithms including machine learning/artificial intelligence, human machine integration, and demonstrations in support of the next generation augmented vision and situational awareness. Efforts will provide rapid decision making and targeting capabilities with the integration of external video and data sources such as weapon sights, air and ground platforms, unmanned air and ground assets, and other data sources enabled by edge computing devices, advanced network services, and open resilient architecture. This project will provide data driven analytics to optimize unit performance and enhance lethality and to enable training in a mixed reality environment. The FY 2026 cost of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $85.5 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Department will certify FYDP funding in a future budget submission. This project includes costs for efforts associated with edge computing devices, movement of information and high-level processing, integration, and interface of products with the Soldiers' head, body, weapon, and platforms. To enable such data movement and integration, this project funds the establishment and baselining of a situational awareness architecture. Funding for this project aligns with the Army's Continuous Transformation priorities and National Defense Strategy. This project supports the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team. Project DI5 begins development on Future Advanced Long-range Common Optical/Netted-fires Sensor (FALCONS). FALCONS is the replacement for the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System (LRAS3) and Fire Support Sensor System (FS3) providing an unmatched capability to detect, identify, and locate threats in all battlefield conditions at extended ranges, in all conditions, locate targets with the fidelity required to employ numerous Army and Joint precision, near precision, and conventional munitions, and have a networked capability to provide direct links for Scouts and Fire Supporters to streamline the kill chain. Project L67 develops, improves and miniaturizes high performance electro-optics, thermal and laser systems. It provides for systems integration of related multi-sensor suites to enable near to long-range target acquisition and engagement as well as improved battlefield command and control in around-the-clock combat operations. It also adapts demonstrated technologies that bring improvements to the mounted and dismounted Soldiers' equipment and capabilities. This project develops or enhances equipment that provides the individual Soldier's day and/or night situational awareness and individual targeting capability. This project includes cost associated with efforts for the development, integration and interface of products on Soldiers head, body and weapons. Funding in this project supports the Army Future's Command Situational Awareness Strategy. Funding in this project aligns with the Army's priorities in support of the National Defense Strategy. Project L70 supports the 3rd Generation Forward Looking Infrared (3GEN FLIR) B-Kit program, which incorporates the next generation of forward-looking infrared technologies. The 3GEN FLIR program provides a common 3GEN FLIR B-Kit for integration into US Army FLIR sensor systems in accordance with the approved Improved Forward Looking Infrared (I-FLIR) Capability Development Document (CDD). When integrated in platform sensor packages, 3GEN FLIR technology enhances the warfighters' survivability and lethality through increased identification range performance, while enabling the detection of difficult or obscured targets and faster threat detection through automated processes. Executing Army guidance to implement advancements in digital processing and artificial intelligence has positioned 3GEN FLIR as the lead sensor to provide the Army's path forward for AI/ML capabilities for ground platforms. The 3GEN FLIR B-Kit program is key to the maintenance of the Army's FLIR industrial base. Project L79 supports the Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS) program, which addresses the one-man, hand-held precision targeting gap identified by the Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE). JETS is a lightweight, handheld system that will provide the single dismounted observer with a common, enhanced day and night thermal capability to rapidly acquire, accurately locate, positively identify, and precisely designate targets. JETS can interface with existing and future Forward Entry Systems (FESs) and operate in environments where Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities are degraded or denied and will integrate the Military-code (M- Code) GPS receivers. This project will address continued development and integration of improved precision targeting components to reduce size, weight, power, and cost of systems for dismounted precisions Fires mission. Funding in this project aligns with the Army's priorities in support of the National Defense Strategy. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $6.832 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative."

Mission — Visual Augmentation System Eng Dev source

This project focuses on transitioning demonstrated technologies that bring improvements to provide Soldiers and Squads a single platform for increased lethality, mobility, and situational awareness to achieve overmatch against our current and future adversaries. Funded efforts will accelerate the implementation of components, Heads Up Display (HUD) improvements, terrain shared coordinate data and processing, algorithms including machine learning/artificial intelligence, human machine integration, and demonstrations in support of the next generation augmented vision and situational awareness. Efforts will provide rapid decision making and targeting capabilities with the integration of external video and data sources such as weapon sights, air and ground platforms, unmanned air and ground assets, and other data sources enabled by edge computing devices, advanced network services, and open resilient architecture. This project will provide data driven analytics to optimize unit performance and enhance lethality and to enable training in a mixed reality environment. This project includes costs for efforts associated with edge computing devices, movement of information and high-level processing, integration, and interface of products with the Soldiers' head, body, weapon, and platforms. To enable such data movement and integration, this project funds the establishment and baselining of a situational awareness architecture. Funding for this project aligns with the Army's Continuous Transformation priorities and National Defense Strategy. This project supports the Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Team. The FY 2026 cost of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) Middle Tier of Acquisition effort is $85.5 million, including RDT&E and procurement of prototype units. The Department will certify FYDP funding in a future budget submission.

Mission — FALCONS source

Future Advanced Long-range Common Optical/Netted-fires Sensor (FALCONS) is the next generation sensor for Reconnaissance and Fires missions to enhance lethality and survivability of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). FALCONS provides interoperability between ground platforms and dismounted personnel through a Common Operational Picture (COP) of the battlefield and interchangeable components. The enhanced capabilities of FALCONS provide the ability to detect threats at greater distances in full spectrum conflict, terrain, and weather conditions with greater image resolution to develop civil considerations. It is envisioned FALCONS capabilities will be part of the system of systems approach enabled by current or future data sharing networks and transport layers to transmit target quality data to effectors in operational and tactical environments maintaining overmatch in the 2030 and 2040 timeframe. FALCONS equipped systems will be part of an Army 2030/2040 force that is decisive in varying operations against threats in environments of national interest. The Army requires FALCONS equipped forces be operationally responsive and able to adapt and exploit patterns of operations faster than the enemy, while dominating situations and adversaries. FALCONS equipped systems are a key entity of maneuver and fires tactical forces, and provides versatility, agility, and lethality.

Mission — Soldier Night Vision Devices source

This project develops, improves and miniaturizes high performance electro-optics, thermal and laser systems. It also provides for systems integration of related multi-sensor suites to enable near to long-range target acquisition and engagement as well as improved battlefield command and control in around-the-clock combat operations. It focuses on adapting demonstrated technologies that bring improvements to the dismounted Soldiers' equipment. This project develops or enhances equipment that provides the individual Soldier's day/night situational awareness and individual targeting capability and supports the Situational Awareness Strategy (SAS). This project includes cost associated with efforts for the development, integration and interface of products on Soldiers head, body and weapons. Funding in this project supports the Army's Soldier Lethality Cross Functional Teams (SL CFT) initiatives. Funding in this project aligns with the Army's priorities in support of the National Defense Strategy.

Mission — Night Vision Dev Ed source

The project supports the 3rd Generation Forward Looking Infrared (3GEN FLIR) B-Kit program, which incorporates the next generation of forward-looking infrared technologies. The 3GEN FLIR program provides a common 3GEN FLIR B-Kit for integration into US Army FLIR sensor systems in accordance with the approved Improved Forward Looking Infrared (I-FLIR) Capability Development Document (CDD). The common 3GEN FLIR B-Kit will integrate with XM30, FALCONS, and future platforms; with potential 3GEN FLIR component utilization opportunities for future reconnaissance and airborne applications. The 3GEN FLIR B-Kit provides Mid Wave Infrared and Long Wave Infrared digital video and the electronic interfaces required to integrate the 3GEN FLIR technology with the host platform sensor. When integrated in platform sensor packages, 3GEN FLIR technology enhances the warfighters' survivability and lethality through increased identification range performance, while enabling the detection of difficult or obscured targets and faster threat detection through automated processes. Executing Army guidance to implement advancements in digital processing and artificial intelligence has positioned 3GEN FLIR as the lead sensor to provide the Army's path forward for AI/ML capabilities for ground platforms. The 3GEN FLIR B-Kit program is key to the maintenance of the Army's FLIR industrial base.

Mission — Joint Effects Targeting Systems (JETS) source

The Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS) is an Army Program, which addresses the one-man, hand-held precision targeting gap identified by the Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE). JETS is a light-weight, handheld system that will provide the single dismounted observer with a common, enhanced day and night thermal capability to rapidly acquire, accurately locate, positively identify, and precisely designate targets. JETS can interface with existing and future Forward Entry Systems (FESs) and will be able to operate in environments where Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities are degraded or denied, and will integrate Military-code (M-Code) GPS receivers. This project will develop and integrate improved precision targeting components to reduce size, weight, power, and cost of systems for dismounted precision Fires mission. Funding in this project aligns with the Army's priorities in support of the National Defense Strategy.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (8)