AN/PVS-5

AN/PVS-5
Type	Passive
Place of origin	United States of America
Category	Head/Helmet mountable
Service history
In service	1972 – present
Used by	United States Armed Forces
Wars	Vietnam War Gulf War Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Production history
Designed	1971
Manufacturer	ITT Industries Litton Industries
Variants	AN/PVS-5, AN/PVS-5A, AN/PVS-5B, AN/PVS-5C
Specifications
Weight	850 grams
Dimensions (L×H×W)	6.5" x 6.8" x 4.7"
Resolution (lp/mm)	>20 lp/mm
Mode of Operation	Passive
II tube	MX-9916
Field of vision (°)	40 degrees
Range of detection	50m (Starlight) 150m (Moonlight)
System zoom	1×
Generation	2

The AN/PVS-5 is a dual-tube night-vision goggle used for aviation and ground support. It uses second-generation image-intensifier tubes which are poor for today's standards. The United States Army still has PVS-5 on supply but are very rarely used. The AN/PVS-5 is based on the SU-50 which was a first-generation night-vision goggle adapted by the United States Air Force in 1971. From 1972 until 1990 the AN/PVS-5 was the mainstay in United States Army night vision for aviation. The AN/PVS-5C was not approved for flight because of its auto-gated feature causing the goggle to shut off in bright light. For ground troops the AN/PVS-5 was the sole night-vision goggle until the adaptation of the improved AN/PVS-7.

By today's standards the PVS-5 was a real safety risk for pilots, issues such as a limited field of view, poor light amplification, inability to read maps, and its excessive weight made it difficult to fly while operating them. In 1982 tests were being made for a suitable replacement for the AN/PVS-5 specifically for aviation, this led to the adaptation of the AN/AVS-6 ANVIS in 1989. The ANVIS was the first night-vision goggle used by the United States Army specifically designed for aviation.

The designation AN/PVS translates to Army/Navy Portable Visual Search, according to Joint Electronics Type Designation System guidelines.