PAS 13 Thermal by Raytheon
Looks like our friends at PEO soldier are getting it right with their fusion training course. The fusion comes from integrating training with Night Vision Goggles (NVG’s), the IR pointer and Thermal weapon sights. The AN/PSQ-20 Enhanced Night Vision Goggle, AN/PAS-13C, D and E Thermal Weapons Sight and AN/PEQ-15 Advanced Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Light are all in play here.
Soldiers are receiving training at Ft. Bragg and learn how to use them separately and all together. I read in the Army News Service, that soldiers are fired up to get this training—PEO will also come to your unit for training—and are realizing the value that thermal is bringing to the battlefield. Unlike NVG’s, thermal allows soldiers to see through thick vegetation to spot bad guys just like the classic movie “Predator”, a personal favorite. Crazy that there’s two US governors (Arnold & Jesse) in that movie.
PEQ-15 by L-3 Insight: The Advanced Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Light (ATPIAL) is a multifunction laser device that emits visible or infrared laser for precise weapon aiming, target acquisition, and target / area illumination under any lighting condition.
PSQ 20 by ITT: System design has been proven through U.S. Army Operational Testing. This system combines an image intensified (I2) tube and infrared (IR) micro-bolometer into a compact monocular. The monocular is approximately the same size as the AN/PVS-14. A separate battery pack provides power for helmet-mounted or hand-held use. The ENVG will mount on a ACH helmet and will provide: flip-up, tilt, fore/aft adjustment; left/right eye use; and quick disconnect from the helmet.
One of the Army officers in the article said that they had all this gear when deployed to Afghanistan but didn’t realize what they had at their fingertips. As a former trainer, I understand that you can have the best kit in the world but, its a paper weight without proper training. Good on PEO soldier for offering this and raising awareness to the capability. -Brandon
{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Yay, more weight added to the helmet along with more shit to eat through batteries. It would be nice if the people that push this crap into rotation would actually wear it in the field for a few weeks.
Hey, sometimes capability comes at a price. Almost everything involves a trade off.
I'm guessing Jake looks as ignorant as he sounds. If he knew the facts, "the people who push this crap into rotation" are prior and retired military, reservists and etc. I happen to work for the "organization" and we've all worn "the kit" in theater through several rotations (on and off active duty) and continue to serve the Warfighters as Government and Defense Contractor personnel. Perhaps Jake is one of the few who couldn't cut it – but thanks for you knee jerk opinion
Oh look, the guy who is working for the company attacking those who dare question a product that would barely pass initial testing in any normal commercial testing but gets pushed on in the military through connections.
Hooray, now we have a night sight that is Gen 3 with a barely functioning thermal that halos targets where they aren't and is likely to get soldiers killed; the good news for the stock holders is that the overpriced tube costs several times the amount of any other Gen 3/4.
"Hooray, now we have a night sight that is Gen 3 with a barely functioning thermal that halos targets where they aren't and is likely to get soldiers killed; the good news for the stock holders is that the overpriced tube costs several times the amount of any other Gen 3/4."
[citation needed]
Warfighter – gotta have a thick skin if you visit these blogs who are mostly populated by those that are geardos. The sad truth is even MOST military have no idea how their equipment is developed and fielded yet buy into the military industrail complex "evilness", deskbound officers and scientists are the only people that work at PEO soldier and sister organizations.
Encourage you to be a frequent visitor and poster though. Many here could use your insight and the occasional explanation as to why things don't happen overnight or why "Dragonskin" really isn't better.
Oh and be prepared for the negatives. Many don't like when google or the vendor's fact sheet isn't…
Gents, Let me know what you think about the new fireteam page. Thanks! -Brandon
It's good that you are asking us on what you want to discuss. I think it's a great idea.
Good to hear…it's you guys that make Kit Up what it is…I want to make this the #1 blog on military.com we're getting close but I can't do it without you guys spreading the word and participating.
What fireteam page?
It's the page that you can give all your good money making ideas to taxpayer sucking overpriced manufacturers for free, sign up now!
Jake-
last time I checked we are not building products on Kit Up or selling ideas to manufacturers……I did a post last year on how to protect your individual ideas/Intellectual property.
I think Jake is being a bit negative on this site. It's meant for good discussion and information sharing. Since being on this site, I have gotten a lot of good tips on gear and firearms. Also, a lot of other interesting discussions as well. I was from the Navy of almost 20 years ago and it's good to see a site that updates you on the latest gear and firearms. Keep up the good work Brandon. Also, would love to have an PEQ-15 on my M&P…..it amazing how much it costs.
Jake = troll. There's no need to be nice about it; we're not here to argue with people who have an axe to grind with the military or defense industries……
Look who it is, the guy who advocates for the F-35; you know, the program that is already $382,000,000,000 in the hole so far without any results.
It's because of idiots like you that our military budget is out of control and that we are so far in debt, just look at this graph to show your insecurity:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline…
Yeah sure, there is no Military-Industrial Complex….
The Military budget of the United States for the 2009 fiscal year was $515.4 billion. Adding emergency discretionary spending and supplemental spending brings the sum to $651.2 billion. This does not include many military-related items that are outside of the Defense Department budget. Overall the United States government is spending about $1 trillion annually on defense-related purposes.
Uh, if you add up state and fed spending we spend about a trillion on education. The Chinese do it with 100 Bil and have three times the people.
What does that have to do with the story? About as much as your F35 example.
A while back I remember reading somewhere that the ENVGs were being tested to have the ability to "trasmit digital images" for a future upgrade. Does anyone have any info on that?
I loved all the crap on my weapons and helmet…what’s your deal? You can go use iron sights in the dark in the mountains, have fun, ill keep all the tech. Which, by the way, keeps getting smaller and lighter not heavier. Have you even used any of this stuff? If so, when? In the 80s in training?
Jake, shouldn't you be in Manhattan with Occupy Wall Street? You clearly have no personal opinion and are just spouting ungrounded factoids that you pulled down from some conspiracy website….that and this isn't the forum.
The freedom of speech you are enjoying on this site is produced every day by men and women in uniform AND the Defense community at large. The system isn't perfect but it's the best around.
Time to start thinking about ways to make the system better and driving meaningful change besides being a part of the problem (you clearly are the latter). We had a saying in the SEAL Teams..if you don't have a solution for the problem then shut your pie hole….maybe you should take this advice to heart……Brandon
I spent three years serving as a sniper in the middle east, I think I've earned my right to speak; then again, I wasn't "Special" Forces (only thing special about them are their ego and budgets). I also pay my taxes on time, what you know as a 'paycheck'. Doubt me if you want, I don't care if some know-it-all on some website thinks I'm a fake because I know that I did my time at the end of the day.
And about the "ungrounded factoids", read up: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy09/pdf/budget…
And I do have a solution for the problem though it might sound alien to those in the Defense Department, it's called "Fiscal Responsibility"; Google it and study well.
Hey Jake, there is lots of fraud, waste, and abuse in the military. I'm personally of the mind that 6 billion dollar stealth bombers are obsolete but that's just me. Take a look at this for instance: "http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/dhs-unwanted-drones/"
That said, you could have gotten a much better response if you had phrased your argument better and avoided segwaying into topics irrelevant to you're point. Take for example the statement about the ego of Special Forces soldiers, it's a comment that is needlessly inflammatory and adds nothing to the conversation.
Jake you sound like a guy that spent alot of time in a tower while others went acf hunting. As a long time nco in cmf 11 I appreciate everything I can use to gain an advantage on the enemy. Warfighter I have just one request, please make everything work off of one type of battery minus radios of course. I miss the aa’s in my peq 2, made packing easier.
Jake is upset.. Poor Jake. First they took away your burger king now this. It’s gonna be a ruff one bud. Hey on a lighter note bf3 is on sale at the big px so you can rock out on toc guard (I’m sure you do this a lot) while everyone else goes out to kill acf.
The big PX also has the double stuff oreos!
I'm still trying to figure out which Al Qaeda team Jake was a sniper with for three years?
Way to hit a new low, calling former military members "Al Queda" since they have differing opinions. Keep it up you pompous ass.
Jake, you made it personal when you played the spec ops card. Gotta be able to take it if you want to dish it out.
I at no point, and will never, call an allied military service member "Al Queda" or any other terrorist branch as an insult to their military service. There are some basic respects that are very clearly lacking on this website, good job representing the "Special" Forces; you just keep on proving that you're a egomaniac who has no respect for other military members..
LOL!
Well, I've been reading the comments for the past day, and I gotta say its been interesting to say the least ;)
Anyway, this program sounds pretty good. A VERY high percentage of troops are issued accessories and given no training for it at all. With programs like this, troops can actually understand the use of these accessories as they apply to the modern battlefield. I would like to point out that there are people that go out and T&E this stuff specifically to develop new TTP's. I know, because I'm one of them. I can't tell you how many times I turned in a detailed description of TTP's that could be used to train troops, only to have it turned down by higher. It's a really good thing to see someone listened to those individuals and made something happen!
Nice to see some productive and meaningful commentary SFMedic. -Brandon
Jake- take a lesson from SFMedic on how to have productive commentary. FYI – I doubt you would be so vocal if we were meeting face to face. Respect is earned with me and not handed out blindly. I’m open to critical commentary on here but if you continue the personal attacks you’re outta here period. Nobody has time for it. Brandon
Well said Brandon. Is this same Jake from Top Shot using "Psy Ops" on us? Again most of us here are from the military of all branches or Law Enforcement, we are professionals. We don't need personal negative comments, it's non productive. We are here to exchange ideas/tips to see how certain gear hold up…that's all.
Jake and reflexivefire- Think of military spending as a stimulus for the american economy. Everything the military buys is from here or sometimes from a close ally like Germany or Italy (Not china. I could sense the thought popping up in a couple of readers' heads). Almost all of that "wasteful spending" is pumped straight into America. It creates jobs for millions of Americans, including yours. Just look at how the military affected Detroit during and after WWII. It is undoubtedly good.
My only question is how do I setup this training for my unit?
If you can get your unit to pay for it, Viking Tactics, Inc. puts together a great class that has been doing this specifically for military personnel. I don’t know what we paid per person, but they came down and taught our class. We provided the range and ammo and they did the rest.
If you can’t get your unit to pay for it, consider finding a class you can send a senior guy with some time remaining to. Let him get a good grasp on it and come back to teach it to your guys (train the trainer type thing)