ITT Industries Night Vision Monocular
By Sgt. Don Kester
Pima County, AZ Sheriff’s Dept.
When first made available to civilian law enforcement, the 6015 night vision monocular was like a breath of fresh air. Finally, something that enhanced the capabilities of law enforcement that was easy to use and readily available. Any agency currently in the market for night vision equipment to be used in support of a tactical team, patrol officers or surveillance units should seriously consider the 6015 monocular. ITT Industries Night Vision has been involved in night vision technology for many years. The 6015 comes with a five year tube warranty and a three year system warranty.
FEATURES
The 6015 monocular is a third generation unit that is lightweight and self contained. It can be used in a handheld fashion, with a head or helmet mount, or can even be mounted on many weapons. With a total weight of 13.8 ounces, it is an extremely versatile unit. For a tactical team, the 6015 can become an integral part of many successful missions, once the capabilities of the unit are discovered. It provides a nighttime capability that is hard to beat, due to its versatility and effectiveness.
The 6015 is intended to be used in all night time situations, whether it be starlight, low light, or even no light. It comes with an infrared (IR) light on the front of the monocular that allows for viewing in very dark situations. The IR illuminator is turned on and off with a switch. The IR illuminator works well in CQB or small areas, but is less effective in open areas or large rooms. The monocular is powered by two AA batteries that are easy to replace. It also has a low battery indicator that is signified with a red blinking light that is visible through the eyepiece, but outside of the intensified field of view. The red light usually starts blinking with about 30 minutes of power left.
The 6015 comes with a rubber eyecup that can be removed when it is used with other accessories. However, when mounted on the head or a helmet or when used in a hand held fashion, it is probably best to leave it on so that it conceals the green glow of the night vision. Another nice feature is the high light cutoff. This allows the 6015 to automatically shut off after three minutes of operation in daylight or bright room conditions. Single lights such as flashlights and headlights will not shut off the monocular unless the light is directly applied for a period of time. When tested using a high powered light, the monocular shut off in approximately one minute.
OPERATING THE 6015
The 6015 is activated by a switch that is very accessible and easy to operate. To go into the IR mode continuously, simply pull the switch and turn it one more notch. The 6015 can momentarily operate in the IR mode, but the only time this is really necessary is to test the light conditions to determine if IR is warranted. The 6015 can actually be held in the hand in several different ways, with the operator choosing which way is most comfortable. The 6015 is equipped with two focus lenses: the objective lens and the eyepiece lens. The objective lens at the front of the monocular should be focused first. This is done by turning the objective lens to infinity and then turning it counter clockwise (for closer distances) to around one foot. If the night vision will be used at distances of more than 30 feet, leave it on the setting for infinity. To achieve the sharpest image, the eyepiece must be in focus. The eyepiece focuses to an individual’s eyesight, while the objective lens focuses on objects at varying distances. Focus them both to get the most use out of the monocular.
It may take a little while to get accustomed to looking through the 6015, just as it does with any other night vision unit. Depth perception can be a problem, but with the 6015 monocular, you can use the opposite eye to help with that. The field of view is 40 degrees, which is substantially smaller than the normal 190 degrees of peripheral vision. It is always a good idea to scan, in order to remain aware of the surroundings. Again, this is the case with any monocular.
RESULTS
The 6015 has proven itself to be a very high quality piece of equipment. It is durable and can be operated in the rain, although it is not waterproof in water more than three feet deep. The view is as clear, or clearer, than most other commercially available night vision products. The device practically turns night into day, and is clear enough to read things at varying distances. It easily fits in a person’s hand and is easy to operate. The hand held fashion works well, but the 6015 is even more useful when utilized with the head or helmet mount. The head mount can be adjusted, but still tends to slide around on a person’s head and is not very comfortable after wearing for some time. The helmet mount works well, especially if used with a PASGT helmet. These kevlar helmets have a point where the mount can be screwed directly into the front, eliminating the need for any straps. The mount can then be flipped up or down and adjusted for eye relief.
For scanning purposes, the 6015 is effective out to distances of at least one hundred yards. Obviously this is variable dependent upon the lighting, weather, and environment. The operator can scan from far to short distances easily, but should be aware that the focus may not be clear with large changes in distance. The monocular will have to be refocused, but it can be done in a second. When the 6015 is mounted on rifles, the operator can clearly identify targets and shoot very tight groups at over 100 yards. As with all night vision equipment, it is imperative that the operator be aware of its characteristics and limitations such as depth perception, the honeycomb effect, spots, etc. All of these characteristics were very minor issues and did not affect the use or effectiveness of the night vision. There were very few spots in any of the units tested and all were consistent.
ACCESSORIES
One of the biggest advantages of the 6015 is the many accessories that can be utilized. Already mentioned were the head and helmet mounts. While the head mount and a belt pouch come with the unit, all of the other accessories cost extra. For a tactical unit, the helmet mount is a must, or the 6015 will obviously not be utilized very effectively. For an adventurous person, a compass can be easily snapped into place on the objective lens. A demist shield can also be utilized in high humidity, or in cold and wet environments. The purpose of the demist shield is to minimize fog on the diopter lens prior to nighttime operations. Also available is a 3-in-1 lens that allows for wide angle viewing. This combination lens includes three components: an adapter, a 2.0X lens (reversible to wide angle) and a 1.5X lens. The 6015 is camera-adaptable. Simply attach the camera adapter ring, and the 6015 can be attached to a 46 mm lens on any 35 mm SLR camera or camcorder. This could be useful for gathering and recording intelligence on scouts or surveillance, but will probably not get used by law enforcement as much as the other accessories.
WEAPONS USE
With the proper mount, the 6015 can be put on just about any weapon, but works best with lighter re-coiling weapons. It is a great addition to the MP5 or M16 type weapons systems. With a mount already attached to the weapon, an operator can remove the night vision from his helmet and lock it into place on the weapon in a matter of seconds, giving him accurate and effective night vision capability on his weapon.
In addition to working well with iron sights, the 6015 can be used in conjunction with any red dot sighting system that is night vision capable. It was tested with the Aimpoint system, and its performance was very impressive. Both can be mounted on the weapon at the same time, and the operator is able to look though the night vision and into the Aimpoint. The red dot shows up as a white dot and is very clear.
COST
ITT Industries Night Vision can sell the unit directly, but prefers that agencies go through one of the hundreds of authorized dealers throughout the country. The 6015 can range from $2,495 to $4,000, but you can shop around to find the best deals. It is well worth the cost, as the effectiveness and advantages gained are extraordinary. In the past, ITT had made several of the 6015 units available through the 1122 program. Although units are no longer available through this program, there are several grants that can be used to obtain night vision. One in particular is explained in detail on the ITT web site. (For interested agencies, ITT also provides assistance with writing grants)
The ITT Industries Night Vision Technical Support Center will attempt to resolve any problem with the functioning or operation of the product over the telephone. If that does not work, the product should be shipped directly to ITT for maintenance.
Whether an agency is looking for handheld night vision, or a system to be used in conjunction with a weapons system, the 6015 monocular should be considered. Versatility, effectiveness and clarity allow this system to be used under just about any conditions. The many features, ease of operation, variety of accessories, adaptability and reasonable cost make it an excellent choice.
ITT Industries Night Vision
www.ITTNightVision.com
7635 Plantation Road
Roanoke, VA. 24019
1-800-448-8678
Sgt. Don Kester
Sgt. Kester has been with the Pima County (Tucson, AZ.) Sheriff’s Department since 1991, and has been a member of the SWAT Team since 1993. He is currently the SWAT Team Supervisor, after serving as a team leader for several years. He served two years as the department’s Training Director and is also a firearms instructor. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Arizona. He serves as the Less Lethal Section Chair for the NTOA.
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Article Courtesy of ASLET (American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers) http://www.aslet.org
ASLET’s mission is to promote and enhance the training of all peace officers by providing a forum for the dissemination of information, tactics, and technology for the purpose of serving their communities professionally and safely.