laststandonzombieisland

This is from yesterday’s DOD contracts, emphasis mine.

Elbit Systems of America – Night Vision LLC, Roanoke, Virginia, is awarded a $500,000,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the procurement of Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle systems; spare and repair parts; contractor logistics support; and test article refurbishment. Work will be performed in Roanoke, Virginia, and is expected to be completed in November 2028. Fiscal 2022 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $944,730 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year; fiscal 2023 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $46,660,149 that will not expire until fiscal 2025; and fiscal 2024 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $79,287,731 that will not expire until fiscal year 2026, for a total amount of $126,892,610, will be obligated on the first delivery order immediately following contract award. This contract was competitively procured via SAM.gov, with three offers received. Marine Corps System Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-24-D-1013).

As noted by Elbit (formerly Harris):

The SBNVG is a helmet-mounted system that provides Marines with increased depth perception, enhanced clarity through high-performance white phosphor image intensifier tubes, a thermal-imaging capability, and more. These features, along with extra-long run times, provide Marines an added edge on the battlefield.

The first tentative moves to field the system came in 2019 under a $41 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to replace the USMC’s legacy night vision device, the 3rd Gen AN/PVS-14.

In 2020 tests, the Marines noted that the “SBNVG provides increased depth perception, improved clarity, and a thermal-imaging capability to detect targets in extreme darkness or through battlefield obscurants. Marines can use the goggles to operate vehicles at night, move through dark buildings or tunnels, and engage targets after sunset.”

“For me, I was able to see clearly through the fog using this system,” said Cpl. Paulo Ancheta, an infantry Marine at TBS. “I was able to burn through the fog with the [SB]NVG alone, but the added thermal capability improved the clarity.”

“This was my first time using binoculars as night vision goggles,” said Sgt. Chris Kozak, a Warfighting instructor at TBS. “The ability to see out of both eyes at night is beyond comparison with what we currently use.”

“The thermal attachment allows us to see infrared heat, which will help us [identify targets], chest bombs and other objects,” said Kozak.