L3Harris readies for Nova night-vision orders from U.S. Army
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L3Harris Technologies anticipates receiving its first Nova night-vision production order from the U.S. Army as soon as this summer, but the exact size or number of devices remains unclear.
Why it matters: It's a milestone for the service's Binocular Night Observation Device effort, meant to democratize night vision and replace older models, like the AN/PVS-14.
Driving the news: L3Harris let a small group of reporters try on and test out Nova last week, in a blacked-out hotel conference room.
- Camouflage-adorned mannequins and obstacles were easily seen through the system's greyish-green illumination.
State of play: The Army in February awarded L3Harris a $466 million BiNOD contract. It also tapped Elbit Systems of America ($451 million) and Photonis Defense ($353 million).
Zoom in: Nova's a brand-new design, according to executives. It comprises two flippable monoculars and a bridge.
- It weighs a little more than a pound. It features USB-C ports and can run for 30 hours on a single AA battery.
What they're saying: "I will tell you that our BiNOD offering is about one-third the price, the cost, of an ENVG-B," said Sam Mehta, president of space and mission systems and communications and spectrum dominance.
- "We're talking about equipping tens of thousands of folks in the Army not only at the tactical edge, but also the folks who are doing things like logistics, the folks that are doing things like supporting the front lines, transportation."
- L3Harris had delivered 25,000 ENVG-Bs as of December.
Go deeper: L3Harris-Palantir combo nets night vision production gains
