Gen 4 Night Vision - Fact or Fiction?

There has been a lot of buzz regarding Generation 4 (GEN IV) Night Vision lately. Some people claim that Gen 4 is the latest and greatest in night vision technology while others claim that it does not exist. This post will clarify the claims made about the “Fourth Generation” of night vision optics.

View from a GEN I Starlight Scope

To start off, it is essential to know the history of image intensification and how the generations are classified.

Night vision systems were first introduced during World War II by the German Army, but because of their size, weight, and cost, they didn’t become main-stream until the Vietnam War. The Generation 0 and Generation 1 (GEN I) classifications are used to describe the night vision used in WWII and Vietnam.

Utilizing a micro-channel plate with an S-25 photocathode, second generation (GEN II) devices provided a much brighter image in comparison to the first generation. The PVS-4 would be an example of a Gen II device.

With third generation systems, the image intensification tubes use a photocathode made with gallium arsenide, greatly improving image brightness and clarity. GEN III night vision tubes also use an ion barrier film on the micro-channel plate. This film increases tube life but also results in the “halo” effect around bright spots.

And here is where things get tricky.

Numerically, 4 comes after 3 – so it only makes sense to label the newest image intensification tubes as the fourth generation. These so-called “GEN IV” NVDs boast the impressive auto-gating feature: the function that automatically adjusts the power supply to adapt to any changes in light. In addition to the auto-gating feature, the ion barrier has been removed, allowing for a more dynamic image with less noise. Unfortunately, these improvements are NOT granted the Gen 4 label. This is due to the US Military’s standards of classification noting that the improvements, while extremely advanced and clearly noticeable, are merely a stepping stone for what is yet to come…

In conclusion, it has been determined that there is NO such thing as a GEN IV Night Vision Device – They are referred to as GEN III+ or Gen 3 Pinnacle. As ENVGs (Enhanced Night Vision Devices) and the COTI (Clip-On Thermal Imager) are allowing a thermal image overlaid onto the classic Night Vision image, we see the opportunity for night vision to head in a different, more functional and advanced direction.

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