Welcome back. to Night Chenanigans. Last week we took a look at a Galvion PDxT review sample for the USMC IHS program. Well today we look at something tengentially related. The Wilcox G96 for the THEON NYX and MIKRON-D night vision goggles.
THEON NYX and MIKRON-D
The USMC SBNVG (Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggle) is actually the Elbit F5032 aka PVS-31D. it was originally produced by Harris before they merged with L3. What some of you may not know is that the housing and glass is not an American product. The housing and glass are manufactured by THEON Sensors in Greece. The THEON NYX is similar to the SBNVG except for the dovetail and programming. I have a MIKRON-D which is THEON Sensors' 16mm dual tube goggle. Take a look at the image below. It is one I took and used for my MIKRON-D review back for Friday Night Lights. Other than the size difference, look at the dovetail position relative to the bridges. See how far back the dovetail is on the SBNVG compared to the MIKRON-D?
Why is the dovetail position important? It has to do with the NVG mount and its position relative to the remote battery pack port. The THEON dovetail position does not work with industry standard Wilcox G24, It will work with the Wilcox G24 LITE or G69. THEON Sensors' has their own dedicated mount which has some proprietary features. See the image below. The dovetail has two contact points that match up with the contacts under the THEON Sensors' mount. This allows the goggle to power down when the mount is folded up. Once you deploy the goggle down again, power is restored.
The SNBVG and similar iterations of housings like the F5032 and EoTech BinoNV lack this feature.
Hello Wilcox G96!
At first glance the G96 looks like a G24 LITE but it lacks the right side release for the sled adjustment and notches on the inside of the corresponding rail. That is the side that the THEON NYX remote battery pack port is located. Also there is a wire connecting the hinge of the G96 to the contact points in the NVG Sled. The THEON Sensors' dovetail locks up differently than G24 compatible dovetails. It has a notch machined into either side of the dovetail. You can see the corresponding pin in the image above.
Above is the G96 next to the THEON Sensors' NVG mount.
One issue with the THEON Sensors mount is how far the goggle is posistioned when the mount is folded up.
Even with the pods articulated rearwards, you can see how far back the G96 is in comparison.
Here you can see how close the remote battery port is to the G96 sled.
See the recess just under the remote power cable? That is for your finger to index when moving the NVG sled forwards or backwards.
Other than the uniqueness of the THEON dovetail compatibility, the Wilcox G96 functions just the same as a G24 in terms of adjusability.
Final Thoughts On The Wilcox G96
The flip up/power off feature is really great. It is not gravity dependent like DTNVG/S,. PVS-31A, BNVD 1431 etc. Gravity based power shut offs stop working if you bend over to pick something up and the goggles are oriented paralle with the ground again. Or in the more rare occurence if you are inverted and your goggles are upside down, they will shut off. Not the case with the THEON Sensors design.
That being said, The G96 is only useable for goggles that utilize the THEON Sensor's dovetail. Like my MIKRON-D. It might work with the Elbit F5032 dovetail but they lack the auot shutoff feature. The G96 will not work with standard Wilcox dovetails.
Big thanks to Augee of TNVC for getting me the G96 so I can share it with you.