AN/PVS-31
Template:Infobox night vision deviceThe AN/PVS-31 Binocular Night Vision Device (BNVD) is a third-generation passive binocular night vision device originally developed for SOCOM by L3Harris. They are considered remarkably lightweight for their specifications and as such are now widely used by the U.S. military as a replacement for heavier systems such as the PVS-15.[1][2]
Development
In accordance with the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), the "AN/PVS-31" designation represents the 31st design of an Army-Navy portable vision system. The JETDS system also now is used to name all Department of Defense electronic systems.
The PVS-31's feature set has made them popular enough that they've seen a number of commercial-market clones under similar names such as "PS-31", as well as advancements from Elbit Systems of America and L3Harris themselves.[1]
Design and features
The AN/PVS-31 features two image intensification tubes and a AA-battery tube on a side articulating bridge, which can be connected to the standard Rhino II dovetail mount, like all of the U.S.'s other currently fielded night vision goggles.[3]
The PVS-31A gets about 15 hours of usage per Lithium-ion AA battery, though extremely cold winter temperatures or arctic conditions can affect battery life.[4]
It can be used with an optional battery pack holding four additional batteries.[3] This can be mounted on the back of the helmet, which shifts the center mass of an equipped helmet toward the wearer's neck, resulting in a more ergonomic balance and reducing neck strain, especially in the prone.
Like the AN/PSQ-42, the ENVG-B features articulation allowing the user to simply move one or both eyepieces to the side 90 degrees or more for a "low-profile stow" position while the Rhino mount itself allows the user to also flip the entire bridge upwards for a a higher stow. The individual tubes also have adjustable stops that limit how much they articulate in, allowing the user to set the goggles to their interpupillary distance (the lateral distance between the pupils of the left and right eye).[3][1]
A gain control knob is centrally mounted on the bridge of the goggle housing. The eyepieces are capable of affixing a protective sacrificial lens directly by threading on, and the objective lenses have removable protective rubber caps, including caps with pinholes for use in daytime.[5]
Unlike many other night vision sets, the L3Harris-built models of PVS-31s lacks adjustable diopters, coming with a set of pre-attached -0.5 diopters. This means standard PVS-31s will work for users with a corrected 20/20 vision, but those with other prescriptions will have to exchange the diopters for those matching their own vision. This was an intentional choice to save weight & length, but the later, Elbit-made model, the PVS-31D, includes adjustable diopters.[6][2][1]
Variants
Three primary variants exist in use with the U.S. Military.
The PVS-31A is the most common, used by the U.S. Army and available to all SOCOM elements.
The PVS-31C is the same product, with the same specifications and tubes[3] but is primarily used by the U.S. Air Force.
The SBNVG is the standard issue night vision device of the U.S. Marine Corps. It is built by Elbit Systems of America off of a model internally referred to as the PVS-31D, similar to the other models but featuring an additional IR illuminator for reading maps and the like, using tubes provided by THEON, then fitted with an Optics-1 ECOTI ("Enhanced Clip-On Thermal Imager"), designated the AN/PAS-29, on the right eyepiece to provide a dual-band thermal and night vision fusion, unlike the other two. The ECOTI has a small arm that wraps around to the front of the eyepiece and projects what it “sees” directly through the front lens, creating a near-perfect overlay of thermal vision over a rectangular area in the center of the view through the right eyepiece. Unlike the L3Harris models, the SBNVG/PVS-31D includes adjustable diopters.[6][7][8][9]
Operational history
The AN/PVS-31 was initially exclusively used by SOCOM before the same model was purchased by the U.S. Army.[10]
In U.S. Army usage they are used both for helicopter aircrews, like the older AN/VIS-6 and -9, and by ground units like the older PVS-14 monocular. In this role, they serve alongside the AN/PSQ-42.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 C, Nicholas (2022-11-04). "Friday Night Lights: Dual Tube Spotlight – L3Harris BNVD PVS-31A". thefirearmblog.com. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 L, Richard (2018-08-01). "PVS-31A". thefirearmblog.com. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedL3H - ↑ SPARTANAT. "REVIEW: L3 Harris AN/PVS-31 BNVD". spartanat.com. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ Sotovilla, Raul. "31st MEU Marines innovate night vision attachments". dvidshub. DVIDS.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 SPARTANAT. "REVIEW: L3 Harris AN/PVS-31 BNVD". spartanat.com. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
- ↑ "Lightweight Night Vision Binocular - AN/PVS-31D". Elbit America. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ "Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle". Elbit America. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
- ↑ C, Nicholas. "FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: COTI (Clip-On Thermal Imager)". TheFirearmBlog. TFB. Retrieved 2 May 2026.
- ↑ "Justification and Approval (J&A) 22-3434 Binocular Night Vision Device (BNVD) Kits" (PDF). USSOCOM. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
See also
Template:L3Harris Technologies
Category:Night vision devices Category:Military electronics of the United States
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