US Army details FWS-I, ENVG III capabilities
The US Army has detailed the improved target acquisition capabilities two new systems will bring dismounted soldiers as they are introduced over the coming 18 months. The systems will allow soldiers to see targets in darkness, through fog and smoke.
The army expects to deploy the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle III (ENVG III) in the second quarter of 2018 and the Family of Weapons Sights-Individual (FWS-I) technology in the first quarter of 2019.
The FWS-I, mounted on a soldier's weapon, will wirelessly transmit its sight picture to the ENVG III, which is mounted on a soldier’s helmet. The ENVG will combine thermal imaging with more common night vision image intensification technology.
A variety of modes will allow soldiers to see in their goggles only the image from the ENVG III itself, only the image from the FWS-I, or a combination of the two. Using a 'picture-in-picture' mode, the image from the FWS-I is displayed at the bottom right of the image that is coming from the goggle.
Another mode is possible when the FWS-I on the rifle and the ENVG III on the soldier's helmet are both pointed in the same direction and seeing essentially the same thing; in this mode the image from the FWS-I can project a reticle into the goggle. The soldier can see the full image of what his goggle normally sees, but a circle representing the reticle from the FWS-I is overlaid onto that image, letting the soldier know where his rifle is pointed. This allows the soldier to acquire a target without needing to shoulder his weapon, while also allowing him to acquire a target while maintaining situational awareness of what else is going on around him.
The FWS-I is designed for the M4 and M16 rifles, and can mount on those rifles in front of day sights that have already been bore-sighted. The FWS-I will also work with the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, the M141 Bunker Defeat Munition, and the M136 AT4 Light Anti-Tank Weapon.
Both the FWS-I and the ENVG III are currently in low-rate initial production. The army hopes to buy 36,000 of the FWS-I, and about 64,000 of the ENVG III. A crew-served variant and a sniper variant are also under development.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating]()
The integration between drones and land vehicles is accelerating
Drones and military ground vehicles are increasingly being designed to operate together as a single platform or even to convert crewed systems to automated ones.
-
![Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system]()
Denmark shuns US platform as it settles on SAMP/T air defence system
The acquisition, which is part of the country’s broader defence package worth DKK58 billion (US$9.2 billion), goes against the grain with many other European countries opting for the US’s popular Patriot platform.
-
![In depth: Competition for British Army vehicle programme heats up, despite more delays]()
In depth: Competition for British Army vehicle programme heats up, despite more delays
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) seems set to be delayed once again but industry is jockeying for position to partner in what would be one of the biggest ever buys for the British Army.
-
![DSEI 2025: AM General has partner lined up for British Army vehicle programme]()
DSEI 2025: AM General has partner lined up for British Army vehicle programme
AM General’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) A2 is in low-rate initial production and the company is looking for export orders, notably the UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP), to add to a recent approval for Canada to buy vehicles.
-
![DSEI 2025: IDV sets eyes on British Army vehicle deal as MD calls for “acceleration” of efforts]()
DSEI 2025: IDV sets eyes on British Army vehicle deal as MD calls for “acceleration” of efforts
The UK’s Land Mobility Programme (LMP) to replace thousands of vehicles is in flux as the tender for the Light Mobility Vehicle segment planned for November is set to be missed. IDV Robotics’ Dr Geoff Davis is calling for the UK government to focus broadly on indigenous capability for procurement and to do it faster.
