Global Landscape of Image Intensifier Tubes and the Imperative for India's Capability Enhancement

IMAGE INTENSIFIER (II) TUBES amplify low-light imagery, enabling soldiers to operate effectively in darkness. These sensors are vital to night operations, enhancing situational awareness, target acquisition, and engagement accuracy.

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Global Scenario

Global Scenario Geopolitical tensions—particularly in Europe—have accelerated investments in night-vision capabilities, with France leading in high-performance II-tube development. The Figure of Merit (FOM = Resolution × Signal-to-Noise Ratio) remains the global benchmark for evaluating night-vision performance.

Adopting the US doctrine of individual soldier lethality, European militaries now aim for a 1:1 ratio of Night Vision Devices (NVDs) across combat units—a trend intensified by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In the Asia-Pacific, rising defence budgets and regional insecurity, notably due to Chinese assertiveness, have spurred similar modernization drives.