# Night Vision Systems - Eng Dev — Program Element 0604710A

**Program element:** 0604710A  
**Component:** U.S. Army  
**Appropriation:** 2040 — RDT&E, Army  
**Budget Activity:** 5 — System Development & Demonstration  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604710A

## Summary

U.S. Army requests $418.4M in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), before stepping down 69% across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators cut 1.6% (to $411.7M). RIVET leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 134.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 461.3 |
| FY2027 | Request | 418.4 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 152.5 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 136.1 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 128.4 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 129.7 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 418.4 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 418.4 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 418.4 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 411.7 | −6.7 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (5)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BQ6 | Visual Augmentation System Eng Dev | 76.3 | 418.0 | 338.0 | −19% |
| DI5 | FALCONS | 10.1 | 10.7 | 37.7 | +251% |
| L79 | Joint Effects Targeting Systems (JETS) | 19.3 | 12.6 | 20.7 | +65% |
| L70 | Night Vision Dev Ed | 7.2 | 14.7 | 16.6 | +13% |
| L67 | Soldier Night Vision Devices | 21.7 | 5.2 | 5.5 | +4% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project BQ6 — Visual Augmentation System Eng Dev

This project focuses on transitioning demonstrated technologies that bring improvements to provide a modular, fused digital awareness system that enhances lethality, mobility, and situational awareness for dismounted Soldiers to achieve overmatch against our current and future adversaries. Funded efforts will drive competition with multiple vendors, establish a modular open system architecture for major components, accelerate and improve thermal and low light sensor suites, terrain shared coordinate data and processing, algorithms including machine learning/artificial intelligence, human machine integration, and demonstrations in support of the next generation augmented vision, night vision, and situational awareness capabilities. Efforts will provide rapid decision making and targeting capabilities with the integration of external video and data sources such as weapon sights, air and ground platforms, unmanned air and ground assets, and other data sources enabled by edge computing devices, advanced network services, and open resilient architecture. This project includes costs for efforts associated with edge computing devices, movement of information and high-level processing, integration, and interface of products/capabilities with the Soldiers as a platform. To enable such data movement and integration, this project funds the establishment and baselining of a Squad architecture. Funding for this project aligns with the Army's Continuous Transformation priorities and National Defense Strategy. This project supports the Futures and Concepts Command (FCC) Maneuver Future Capability Directorate. The total cost of the Integrated Visual Augmentation Systems IVAS 1.2, Rapid Prototyping Middle Tier of Acquisition (RP MTA) effort is $798.10 million RDT&E from FY 2022 to FY 2027. The total cost of the Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) Rapid Prototyping Middle Tier of Acquisition (RP MTA) effort is $429.8 million RDT&E from FY 2025 to FY 2027.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** RIVET (87.1, 26%), ELBIT (60.9, 18%), ANDRUIL (55.0, 16%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) | 76.3 | 308.0 | 338.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project DI5 — FALCONS

Future Advanced Long-range Common Optical Netted-fires Sensor (FALCONS) is the next generation sensor for Reconnaissance and Fires missions to enhance lethality and survivability of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) in Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). FALCONS provides interoperability between ground platforms and dismounted personnel through a Common Operational Picture (COP) of the battlefield and interchangeable components. The enhanced capabilities of FALCONS provide the ability to detect threats at greater distances in full spectrum conflict, terrain, and weather conditions with greater image resolution to develop civil considerations. FALCONS capabilities will be part of the system of systems approach enabled by current or future data sharing networks and transport layers to transmit target quality data to effectors in operational and tactical environments maintaining overmatch in the FY 2030 and FY 2040 timeframe. FALCONS equipped systems will be part of an Army FY 2030 and FY 2040 force that is decisive in varying operations against threats in environments of national interest. The Army requires FALCONS equipped forces be operationally responsive and able to adapt and exploit patterns of operations faster than the enemy, while dominating situations and adversaries. FALCONS equipped systems are a key entity of maneuver and fires tactical forces, and provides versatility, agility, and lethality. FY 2027 funding in the amount of $37.717M will support FALCONS MTA-RP detailed design phase and procurement of "long lead" items for the Prototype development phase beginning in early FY 2028.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** PM GS (2.1, 5.5%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| FALCONS Prototype Development | 10.1 | 10.7 | 37.7 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project L79 — Joint Effects Targeting Systems (JETS)

Project L79 supports the Joint Effects Targeting System (JETS) program and the development of Handheld Fires (HHF), which addresses the one-man, hand-held precision targeting gap identified by the Fires Center of Excellence (FCoE). JETS is a lightweight, handheld system that will provide the single dismounted observer with a common, enhanced day and night thermal capability to rapidly acquire, accurately locate, positively identify, and precisely designate targets. The Handheld Fires System will be an advanced precision targeting system incorporating improved target acquisition sensors and optics, improved targeting sensors, targeting algorithms, and a Military Code (M-Code) Global Positing System (GPS) receiver while reducing size, weight, and power requirements.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** C5ISR (RTI) (1.5, 7.0%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JETS II Development | 19.3 | — | — |
| Handheld Fires Development | — | 12.6 | 20.7 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project L70 — Night Vision Dev Ed

The project supports the 3rd Generation Forward Looking Infrared (3GEN FLIR) B-Kit program, which incorporates the next generation of forward-looking infrared technologies. The 3GEN FLIR program provides a common 3GEN FLIR B-Kit for integration into US Army FLIR sensor systems in accordance with the approved Improved Forward Looking Infrared (I-FLIR) Capability Development Document (CDD). The common 3GEN FLIR B-Kit will integrate with XM30, FALCONS, and future platforms; with potential 3GEN FLIR component utilization opportunities for future reconnaissance and airborne applications. The 3GEN FLIR B-Kit provides Mid Wave Infrared and Long Wave Infrared digital video and the electronic interfaces required to integrate the 3GEN FLIR technology with the host platform sensor. When integrated in platform sensor packages, 3GEN FLIR technology enhances the warfighters' survivability and lethality through increased identification range performance, while enabling the detection of difficult or obscured targets and faster threat detection through automated processes. Executing Army guidance to implement advancements in digital processing and artificial intelligence has positioned 3GEN FLIR as the lead sensor to provide the Army's path forward for AI/ML capabilities for ground platforms. The 3GEN FLIR B-Kit program is key to the maintenance of the Army's FLIR industrial base.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** PM TS (1.0, 6.0%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3GEN FLIR B-Kit Product Improvements & Competition Development | 7.2 | 14.7 | 16.6 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

### Project L67 — Soldier Night Vision Devices

Project L67 develops, improves and miniaturizes high performance electro-optics, thermal and laser systems. It also provides for systems integration of related multi-sensor suites to enable near to long-range target acquisition and engagement as well as improved battlefield command and control in around-the-clock combat operations. It focuses on adapting demonstrated technologies that bring improvements to the dismounted Soldiers' equipment. This project develops or enhances equipment that provides the individual Soldier's day/night situational awareness and individual targeting capability and supports the Army's Situational Awareness Strategy (SAS). This project includes cost associated with efforts for the development, integration and interface of products on Soldiers head, body and weapons. Funding in this project aligns with the Army's priorities in support of the National Defense Strategy.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** RTI (0.7, 13%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small arms fire control | 2.8 | 2.6 | 3.4 |
| Binocular Night Observation Device (BiNOD) | 8.9 | 2.6 | 2.0 |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 50% | 208.3 |
| Government labs & warfare centers | 4.3% | 18.1 |
| Other / unspecified | 46% | 192.1 |

**Top named industry performers:** RIVET ($87.1M, 21%), ELBIT ($60.9M, 15%), ANDRUIL ($55.0M, 13%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

A portion of this funding line is directly aligned to the Army Modernization Priority in support of situational awareness for the Soldier. This program element provides night vision, surveillance, target acquisition mission planning, data visualization technologies required for United States defense forces to engage enemy forces twenty-four hours a day under conditions of degraded visibility due to darkness, adverse weather, battlefield obscurants, foliage and man-made structures.

SBMC development includes three vendors providing phased prototype deliveries of increasing maturity beginning 2QFY 2026 leading to demonstration of production representative prototypes to support a production decision by the end of FY 2027. SBMC prototypes will be evaluated throughout FY 2026 and FY 2027. SQD-A leverages lessons learned from IVAS 1.2 and delivered hardware now known as SBMC Surrogates, as a technology insertion to the base production agreement awarded in Dec 2022. The agreement was novated to Anduril Technologies in April 2025.

## Related program elements

- [0604611A — Javelin](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604611A) (Army)
- [0603774A — Night Vision Systems Advanced Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603774A) (Army)
- [0305304D8Z — DoW Enterprise Energy Information Management (EEIM)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0305304D8Z) (Defense-Wide)
- [0101127F — B-2 Squadrons](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0101127F) (Air Force)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0604710A (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0604710A")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*