Hoffman Engineering to provide night-vision test gear to Air Force in $6.7 million deal

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga., 7 May 2014. Night-vision test & measurement experts at Hoffman Engineering Corp. in Stamford, Conn., will provide the U.S. Air Force with test equipment for night-vision goggles under terms of a $6.7 million contract announced Monday.

Hoffman will manufacture as many as 80 night-vision goggle infrared test sets and as many as 300 test set upgrade kits. Awarding the contract were officials of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga.

Among the latest electro-optical device test sets that Hoffman offers for night-vision devices is the ANV-126A, which offers field of view night-vision device testing as wide as 40 degrees and enhanced resolution levels over previous ANV-126 models.

The ANV-126A adds a microprocessor to the system electronics, replacing a variety of analog components. Menus guide the user through test sequences and provide preset test levels in addition to allowing for manual settings. Input test levels for Gain are preset with values (though user adjustable) and ratios arrived at automatically.

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The system provides direct reading of gain in real time, including gain ratio between tubes. It also provides visual checks using projected reticles and spot-defect zones, ans well as collimation and diopter tests.

The ANV-126A also provides night-vision device electrical system evaluation, including low-battery indicator. It provides digital displays of image tube current draw and test voltage, as well as system prompts to guide test sequences, and digital light level settings.

The test set offers detector probe; voltmeter cable; voltmeter clip adapter; 3.8-volt adapter for aircraft power simulation; diopter scope; collimation bridge; night-vision device power adapter, objective adapter, and eyepiece adapter; D-size battery holder; optics cover plate; and AC power cord.

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The test system comes in a rugged portable mil-spec case, and hardware modules can retrofit into existing cases. The Hoffman ANV-126A-UG/F night-vision device test set field upgrade, for example, is available as an in-the-field upgrade to the existing ANV-126 test set.

This upgrade configuration enables technicians to swap out the primary module in the field with a new digital module and then return the old modules back to the factory. Existing ANV-126 accessories are compatible with the new digital configuration.

For more information contact Hoffman Engineering online at www.hoffmanengineering.com, or the Air Force Life Cycle Management Command at Robins Air Force Base at www.robins.af.mil/units/aflcmc.