NEGI : NIGHT VISION TECHNOLOGY

DRDO Science Spectrum, May 2008, pp. 177-186

 2008, DESIDOC

Night Vision Technology–Indian Scenario

S. S. Negi
Instruments Research & Development Establishment, Dehradun–248 008

Considering the emerging trends in the battlefield scenario and threat perception, there has
been rapid technological advancement in the development of night vision devices in the recent
past. These devices are true force multipliers as they allow weapons and equipment to operate
in day & night with efficiency and desired terminal effects. Night vision devices are finding wide
range of applications in military environment performing a number of missions extending from
surveillance to high performance target search, track, acquisition and guidance. Presently two
different families of systems, viz. image intensifier and thermal imaging which provide the capability
to see in the dark without artificial illuminations are currently in service world over.

Keywords: Image intensifier, thermal imaging, night vision technology

1. IMAGE INTENSIFIER SYSTEMS
In India, IRDE, Dehradun, has been the nodal
agency in the area of development of image intensifies
(If) tube/thermal imaging-based night vision devices
(NVDs). The activity on II Tube-based sights started
in early 70s and has developed variety of sights
based on zero gen, 1 st gen, 2 nd gen as well as
supergen and Hypergen keeping in pace with the
advancement in II tube technology. With competence
and infrastructure available at IRDE a wide variety
of NVDs have been developed and productionised
by various production Agencies, viz., Ordnance
Factory Dehradun; BEL, Machlipatnam; NIL, Kolkata;
SEH, Hyderabad; GOAL, Pondicherry; and SAAPL,
Hyderabad.
A quantity of 45000 (approx) NVDs-based on
IRDE design, using 2 nd gen II tube, have been
productionised 3 rd and 4 th gen (filmless) tubes have
been developed in USA which are not available to
India and thus remains a technological gap. The
main advantage of these tubes is their high sensitivity
in the near infrared region but at the same time
suffers from high thermal noise. The sights based
on these tubes will perform better in cold environment.
Regarding II tube development and its production
in India, BELOP, Pune, has been productionising
2 nd gen II tubes based on ToT from DEP Holland.
There is need to explore the ToT of hygergen/3 rd
gen from the available source considering the huge
requirements of services
Having gained enough experience through
productionisation of II tube-based NVDs, BEL,
Machilipatnam, has acquired enough expertise to
develop night vision devices to meet requirement
of Services/Paramilitary forces.
2. THERMAL IMAGING SYSTEMS
Thermal imaging systems (TIS) provide enhanced
synthetic vision and are becoming a necessity in
all strategic defence mission. Recent advancement
in the staring focal plane arrays (FPAs), signal
processing and innovative optical designs have enabled
revolutionary advancement in NV technology leading

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to the realization of light compact 3 rd gen thermal
imagers having performance twice that of second-
generation devices and four time of first-generation
systems. Not only India has made significant progress
in the field of thermal imaging systems but innovative
work has carried out to enhance the performance
of existing systems. IRDE has been working in this
area since late 1980s and has developed various
classes of TIs based on scanning/staring focal plane
arrays (FPAs) detectors for target acquisition in
stand-alone mode as well as part of electro optic
flight control system (EOFCS). These detectors
are available in the format 288 × 4/480 × 4/320 ×
240/MCT/QWIP operating in LWIR (8-12 mm) whereas
3rd gen detectors are available in 320 × 240/640
× 480 InSb/MCT/QWIP FPAs with integrated or
split coolers.
FPAs being strategic/critical items have always
been the technological gap and we have to rely on
foreign sources. Some work on development of
detectors is being carried out at SSPL. ToT of
integrated detector dewar cooler assembly (IDDCA)
is also not economically viable considering the
advancements taking place in detector technology.
One of the approaches to bridge the gap is to go
for joint venture programmes. However India has
developed expertise to design and develop optics
and signal processing for meeting any TI requirement
with available thermal detectors.
Thermal imagers are being inducted in to the
Services in large numbers. and they are becoming
familiar with system capabilities and limitation, their
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requirements of large field of view (FOV) and long
range will always call for detectors having format
1k x 1k with dual colour/ dual-band capability having
pixel size 15 mm and thermal sensitivity 15 mk.
With the advancement of bolometer technology
and availability of microbolometer FPAs from 2002,
IRDE/BEL has developed uncooled TI sights which
have got a wide potential in both military & civil
sectors being low cost device. There is an urgent
need to explore ToT of bolometric FPAs from available
sources.
Imaging IR seekers are being developed by
RCI, Hyderabad, for tracking and guidance.
Some work on the QWIP detector technology
is being pursued at IISc, Bangalore.
3. NEW TECHNOLOGIES
• Short wavelenth infrared (SWIR) and multi-
spectral/hyper-spectral imaging may mature
and systems will be available in near been
future.
• Imaging spectrometry and polarimetry are also
being introduced for detection of man made
objects in natural background for decamouflaging
and is likely to be of use in a number of fields.
• Image and pixel fusion.
Considering the potential of night vision technologies,
there is a need to have synergised programmes
between the private sector and Govt institutions
and an analysis of present-day world scenario.
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