Lightweight Optics Could Aid Nighttime Military Operations.

• Position: News Briefs

A photonics technology company has developed new optics compatible with night vision goggles that executives say can help give military personnel crystal clear vision at night.

The company, Excelitas Technologies of Mississauga, Canada, unveiled its Mamba40 lightweight optics in September. The product can be used in a variety of low-light environments and could be coupled with night vision goggles used during a variety of surveillance missions, said Business Development Manager Bran Tan.

The Mamba40's objective and eyepiece are compatible with all-generation 18 mm image intensified tubes, according to the company's website, including monocular and binocular goggles. In optical engineering, the objective is the optical element that gathers light from the object being observed and focuses the light rays to produce an image.

The optics can be used with both white and green phosphor night vision goggles, Tan added.

"Mamba40 is an ideal choice for land, marine and naval surveillance, as the product offers users [the opportunity] to take full advantage of high [figure of merit] tubes, as well as the ability to see with greater comfort and clarity in starlight," Tan said. Figure of merit, or FOM, is calculated by multiplying the...