The Great Game Changer – Thermal Optics, by NC Scout

We’ve come a long, LONG way in a short amount of time with regard to the technology available to the Patriot and one of the big ones is thermal. In years past it was one of those thing that I considered a great enabler only after you get set up with quality night vision. And while I still think that is an absolute requirement, we’re quickly approaching a time with the advancement of thermal optics that I think its a must have and in some cases should be bought before night vision.

In the Scout and Recce courses we do quite a bit of movement at night, from the movement to contact on the second night of the course to the night ambushes and large scale raid of the Recce course. If you’re not training for night operations you’re wrong. Daylight operations are a zero sum game and at night we can have literally every advantage we want. Traditionally this began with Night Operating Devices (NODs) and an IR Laser. But as combat in Libya, Syria, Yemen and most notably Ukraine has proven, we’re rethinking a lot at the small unit level and a big part of that is passive aiming of weapons and focusing more on target detection. The commonly held myth of the GWOT was that we owned the night, and for a good portion of it we did, but that’s no longer true in all cases. Both sides have night vision and lasers point two ways. While I think an IR laser is absolutely still a requirement on a fighting weapon, we have to account for passive observation and aiming as well.

In practice this is where thermal really shines. Previously we were issued the PVS-30 and later the PVS-22 for night aiming of sniper weapon systems and the old PAS-13 thermal viewer, while available to us, was not implemented as well as it could have due to its weight and very short battery life. Nowadays I think we can put that behind us with the level of capability available. Placed in front of a day optic a clip on thermal sight gives us the ability to observe through our day optic while integrating the thermal imaging. Big plus for the individual Rifleman.

The AGM Rattler in both the weapons sight (TS series) and the clip on (TC) series really proved their worth to the students in both courses, not just for observation but in learning to mask their own thermal signatures. This proved vital in their successful ambush of the OPFOR during the night ambush lanes, with the patrol leader (PL) checking the thermal signature of each of his team mates with the handheld AGM StingIR before emplacing himself. They were completely invisible once in position.

On the other side, this also allowed for rapid detection of the assault and support by fire elements getting in place during the night raid. Utilizing the StingIR’s built in compass, the OPFOR tasked with defending the targeted area were able to coordinate fires effectively by handing off compass bearings of the attackers in real time. I was personally impressed with it in practice as was everyone else.

So where should you begin? Most people know at least something about NODs, but thermal outside of the hunting circles is kind of an enigma. I don’t get a lot of them in class aside from older (and outdated) FLIR units or small handheld thermals really meant for tracking blood trail heat signatures. The quick and dirty is this – 384 resolution is really the entry level these days and along with it, a powerful enough processor to render images in real time. Unlike any decent night vision unit, which is analog, thermals are digital. 640 is currently the best you can get an affordable price point and while they’re great, I still think most folks are well suited with a 384 unit for nearly anything they need to do. Where you’ll see a major difference is in image quality under magnification.

In saying that a clip on offers the maximum level of versatility being mounted in front of your day optic as well as being handheld. Its a great starting point. But having a dedicated weapons sight is as important in my opinion, eliminating a point of potential failure and allowing for a better zoom imaging quality even at a lower resolution. And last, I think the StingIR offers the maximum level of versatility, being a clip on or being mounted to a Wilcox dovetail to be mounted the same way you would a PVS-14.

Overall if you’re not looking into thermal you’re behind the power curve, and that’s something I didn’t think I’d have said years ago when night vision reigned supreme. And as I previously stated, its still very much a requirement for movement in real time at night, but thermal is rapidly becoming the go-to for target acquisition and aiming. And the best part? It works day and night. The level of technology available to us is really mind blowing from my perspective and its one that we need to take every advantage of while we can.

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