The Development History of Infrared Night Vision Devices
The visible light at night is very weak, but the infrared rays that are invisible to the human eye are abundant. Infrared cameras can help people observe, search, aim, and drive vehicles at night. Although infrared was discovered early on, the development of infrared remote sensing technology has been slow due to the limitations of infrared components. It was not until 1940 when Germany developed lead sulfide and several infrared transmission materials that the birth of infrared remote sensing instruments became possible. Afterwards, Germany was the first to develop several infrared detection instruments such as active infrared night vision devices, but none of them were actually used during World War II.
Almost at the same time, the United States was also developing infrared night vision systems. Although the experiment was successful later than Germany, they were the first to put them into practical applications. In the summer of 1945, the US military landed and attacked Okinawa Island. The Japanese army, hidden in caves and tunnels, used the complex terrain to sneak out and attack the US military at night. So the US military urgently transported a batch of newly manufactured infrared night vision cameras to Okinawa, and mounted guns and cannons equipped with infrared night vision cameras near the cave. As soon as the army climbed out of the cave in the dark, they were immediately knocked down by a burst of accurate guns and cannons. The Japanese army inside the cave, unaware of the cause, continued to charge outside and lost their lives in confusion. The infrared night vision system played an important role in eliminating the stubborn resistance of the Japanese army on Okinawa Island when it first entered the battlefield.
The active infrared night vision device has the characteristics of clear imaging and simple production, but its fatal weakness is that the infrared light of the infrared searchlight can be detected by the enemy's infrared detection device. In the 1960s, the United States was the first to develop a passive thermal imager, which does not emit infrared light and is not easily detected by enemies. It also has the ability to observe through fog, rain, etc.
From April to June 1982, the Malvinas Islands War broke out between Britain and Argentina. On the midnight of April 13th, the British attacked Stanley Port, the largest stronghold held by the British army. A minefield set up by 3000 British soldiers suddenly appeared in front of the Afghan defense line. All firearms and artillery in the UK are equipped with infrared night vision devices, which can clearly detect Afghan targets in the dark. However, the Arab army lacked night vision equipment and could not detect the British army, only being passively beaten. Under the accurate firepower of the British army, the Arab army could not support it, and the British army took the opportunity to launch an attack. By dawn, the British had occupied several major high points on the Afghan defense line, and the Afghan army was completely under British firepower control. At 9:00 pm on June 14th, 14000 Arab soldiers had to surrender to the British army. The British army led the infrared night vision equipment and won a battle with vastly different forces.
In the 1991 Gulf War, on the battlefield filled with sandstorms and gunpowder, the US military was equipped with advanced infrared night vision equipment, which allowed them to detect the enemy before Iraqi tanks and fire their guns. The Iraqi army only learned from the muzzle fire of American tanks that the enemy was ahead. From this, it can be seen that infrared night vision equipment plays an important role in modern warfare.
