Introduction

Modern militaries cannot do without night vision equipment. Nigh vision equipment plays a vital role in many military operations/tasks and expands a military’s (offensive and defensive) capabilities on operations and the battlespace. Night vision equipment is used by military personnel to aid them cope with assigned tasks and complete any mission. Night vision equipment is also available as an integral component of various military vehicles, aircraft, and vessels; It is impossible to imagine any plane, helicopter, tank or drone without it today.

Reasons Why The Military Needs To Use Night Vision Equipment

There are many reasons why the military needs to use night vision equipment. However, in most cases, and below are three important ones:

Increasing Security

Soldier safety is the main issue on the battlefield. Various advanced methods of conducting military operations and modern technologies are used to ensure it. The combination of these two factors makes it possible to minimise the risks of injury or fatalities. Night vision equipment plays a key role in this process. It facilitates battlefield intelligence, i.e. aids the military to learn about the enemy’s actions in advance, avoid traps set by the enemy, safely move around unfamiliar terrain, etc. Even in complete darkness, the use of night vision equipment reduces or eliminates the need to get too close to enemy combatants to conduct reconnaissance activities or deliver pinpoint strikes.

Improving Situational Awareness

Before the advent of night vision equipment it was much more difficult for military personnel to assess the battlespace at night or in low-light conditions. This could affect decision-making which would impact negatively on military operations and tasks. However, with the introduction of night vision equipment, situational awareness of the battlespace improved, and so did decision-making. This advantage enable military personnel to receive up-to-date information about current events and avoid unpleasant situations (e.g. ambush). Improved situational awareness increases safety and opens new opportunities for successful military operations.

Increasing the Effectiveness of Actions

In conditions of insufficient light, the military must use night vision equipment. This is the only way to increase an operation’s effectiveness and achieve the set goals. The military-grade night vision scope, thermal imaging devices and other optics used by military personnel enable more precision targeting, enhanced awareness of enemy manoeuvres, hitting the most important targets, and promptly eliminating military vehicles. All of this increases the chances on the battlefield and helps to avoid accidental/friendly casualties. The effectiveness of actions during an attack and defence depends on the presence of night vision equipment. In this instance, the use of night vision equipment is a critical component of success.

How Does Night Vision Equipment Help The Military?

Many modern militaries have long used night vision equipment. With its use, they can more effectively undertake and cope with assigned tasks during low-light and night-time conditions. This enables them to conduct operations and tasks around the clock and gain a massive advantage over adversaries.

Reconnaissance

Various types of night vision equipment aid the military to perform a range of actions on the battlefield. However, it becomes especially useful during reconnaissance activities. With the use of night vision equipment, it is possible to perform more complex and dangerous work in low-light and night-time operations, reducing the risk of being detected by the enemy. Night vision sights, binoculars, and monoculars make it possible to conduct more effective reconnaissance. It also enhances intelligence gathering such as the recording of enemy movements, locating military vehicles, and the assessment of the equipment of soldiers such as weapons and other equipment.

Night vision equipment is also used in aerial reconnaissance. With aircraft such as UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) installed with night vision equipment, it is possible to determine the location and number of enemy units, the amount of equipment available to them and much more.

At the same time, the chance to remain undetected in both examples is much higher, which provides a considerable advantage and increases the chances of a successful mission.

Conducting Military Operations

In ancient times, armies were more likely to fight on the battlefield during daylight hours, mainly because it was difficult to move and coordinate larger bodies of soldiers during night-time. Fast forward to the present, with the paradigm of the 360 degree battlefield and use of night vision equipment, and war does not stop for a second! In this regard, military personnel will actively use a variety of night vision equipment during military operations. This enables them to conduct both offensive and defensive actions, as required, in low-light and night-time conditions successfully. Good visibility and situational awareness enables military personnel to better prepare for specific actions, increasing the chances of a positive outcome. Further, night vision equipment enables specialised units to sabotage in the dark, destroy essential enemy targets (using a sniper rifle and night vision sight, for example) and change tactical position much more easily.

Control of Various Military Equipment

Modern tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems, armoured infantry support infantry fighting vehicles (to name a few) cannot operate as effectively without night vision equipment. Night vision equipment is often used in the control system, usually allowing the crew to see the surrounding area more easily. Night vision equipment can also be found on military aircraft, helicopters, ships, and submarines. They help to simplify control and maximise the safety of personnel on board.

Summary

Night vision equipment plays a key role in modern military operations. It increases the safety of military personnel, enhances situational awareness, allows combat operations to be conducted more effectively around the clock, and provides a significant advantage over the enemy. These factors positively affect each mission’s outcome, thereby proving the importance of night vision equipment for various military units.