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F-16s receiving Night-Vision Imaging System
June 22, 1998 (by
Lieven Dewitte) -
U.S. Air Force pilots no longer will need to use a makeshift system of fasteners, green filters and glow sticks in the F-16 cockpit to fly at night with night-vision goggles, or NVGs.
A retrofit modification, in response to a combat-mission-need statement, has made cockpits and external lighting of 43 block 40 F-16s at Aviano Air Base, Italy, compatible with NVGs. The modification is called the night-vision imaging system, or NVIS.
The NVIS program, managed by Aeronautical Systems Center's F-16 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Oh., was accelerated because of unique missions being flown from Aviano over Bosnia.
A contract for the NVIS modification for the remainder of the F-16 fleet was awarded April 30 to Luminescent Systems Inc., Buffalo, N. Y. The retrofit should begin in 1999 with more than 1, 000 F-16s receiving the NVIS modification over the next five years.
The NVIS program, managed by Aeronautical Systems Center's F-16 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Oh., was accelerated because of unique missions being flown from Aviano over Bosnia.
A contract for the NVIS modification for the remainder of the F-16 fleet was awarded April 30 to Luminescent Systems Inc., Buffalo, N. Y. The retrofit should begin in 1999 with more than 1, 000 F-16s receiving the NVIS modification over the next five years.
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