NIGHT VISION IMAGING SYSTEMS

Mil-STD-3009 Compliant Night Vision NVIS Displays

E3 Displays designs and manufactures MIL-STD-3009 compliant night vision displays — NVIS displays and NVIS monitors that stay clearly readable to the naked eye without washing out the image in night vision goggles (NVGs). From cockpit instruments to ground vehicle and marine consoles, our engineers control every source of infrared and excess visible light so your crew sees the mission, not the screen glare.

NVIS Displays for Goggles, Computers and Mission Systems

NVIS Displays are not only useful for the military industry but have proven useful for the commercial, medical and consumer industries. In each of these industries, night vision goggles amplify light the eye can barely perceive — especially red and near-infrared wavelengths just beyond the 400–700 nanometer range we experience as color. Any display in the operator’s field of view must control what it emits in that range.

All of our NVIS display systems can be optically bonded to improve the visibility and durability of the display in the most rugged environments. E3 Displays NVIS enhancement ensures that all missions are completed timely and safely.

How Do NVIS Night Vision Displays Work?

Night vision goggles work by intensifying very small amounts of ambient light — starlight, moonlight and near-infrared energy — into a visible image. They are most sensitive in the red and near-infrared part of the spectrum, so even a modest light leak in that band looks like a floodlight through the goggles.

A standard LCD display emits high levels of IR radiation causing interferences with the Night Vision Imaging Systems. Through the goggles, the screen blooms into a bright halo, the goggle’s automatic gain drops, and the outside scene goes dark — exactly when the operator needs it most.

To prevent this and image distortion, NVIS display solutions are usually TFT displays that emit very low levels of IR. This lets the operator read the display with the naked eye, glancing under or around the goggles, without degrading the NVG image. The illumination from the display is also low enough to be virtually undetectable at an extended distance.

How E3 Makes a Display NVIS Compatible: 6 Steps

Define the requirement – goggle type, NVIS Type and Class, surrounding cockpit or vehicle lighting, and required day and night luminance.

Control the light source – design an NVIS-compatible backlight or front light, or filter the existing backlight to cut near-infrared output.

Select the NVIS filter – chosen by transmission, light source and infrared noise requirements, then installed in the front or backlight assembly.

Engineer a wide dimming range – bright enough for direct daylight (up to 2,500 nits) with smooth, stable dimming down to night-vision levels.

Bond and ruggedize – optical bonding, cover glass, EMI protection and thermal management matched to the operating environment.

Measure and inspect – check NVIS radiance and chromaticity against the program’s MIL-STD-3009 requirements before delivery.

NVIS Display vs. Standard Display

Feature	Standard LCD display	E3 NVIS display / NVIS monitor
Near-infrared emission	High, from an unfiltered backlight	Very low, via NVIS filter or NVIS-designed light source
Seen through NVGs	Blooms; people see in drops; outside scene darkens	Readable without degrading the goggle image
Dimming range	Limited at the low end	Wide-range dimming from daylight to night levels
Daylight readability	Varies by panel	Up to 2,500 nits, with optical bonding
Detectability at distance	Visible glow	Virtually undetectable at extended distance
Governing standard	None for NVIS	MIL-STD-3009
Typical use	Office and consumer devices	Cockpits, military vehicles, marine bridges, tactical devices

Common Applications of NVIS Displays

NVIS displays and NVIS monitors are used wherever operators need instrument data in the dark without giving up their night vision:

Cockpit and avionics instruments
Military ground vehicle displays
Navigation
Surveillance
Identification
Tactical and portable handheld devices
Mining
Construction
Diagnostics
Search and Rescue
Marine navigation
Hunting

NVIS Displays by Industry

Avionics

Our avionics displays bring NVIS compatibility to cockpit instruments, simulation equipment and special mission systems, with optical bonding, anti-glare treatment and wide-range dimming.

Military and defense

E3 military displays support land vehicle display systems, tactical tables and maintenance systems, and are built to withstand dust, heat, water and heavy glove use.

Marine

NVIS-compatible marine displays keep radar and navigation data readable on the bridge at night while protecting the watch crew’s dark-adapted vision.

Industrial and medical:

Mining, construction and search-and-rescue teams use low-IR industrial displays in low-light sites, while medical displays support diagnostics where controlled light output matters.

NVIS Filters: Make Your Existing Display Night Vision Compatible

You don’t always need a new display or an entirely new backlight system. As an NVIS display manufacturer, E3 Displays can add an NVIS filter to your existing display.

Most NVIS programs require one display to perform in daylight and at night, with or without goggles. An NVIS filter helps deliver that dual-mode performance while meeting MIL-STD-3009 requirements.

NVIS filters can be installed into the front or backlight assembly of most displays. Filter color selection can be chosen based on transmission, light source, and infrared noise requirements.

NVIS Filter or Full NVIS Redesign: Which Do You Need?

Choose an NVIS filter when your current display already meets size, brightness and environmental needs and you want a faster, lower-cost path to night vision compatibility.
Choose a full NVIS design when backlight IR output is too high to filter efficiently, the program needs a specific NVIS Class or color performance, or the unit also needs touch, bonding or ruggedization. Our custom display design team handles both paths.

What is MIL-STD 3009

Lighting, Aircraft, Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS) Compatible

MIL-STD-3009 is the U.S. Department of Defense standard for NVIS-compatible aircraft lighting and displays. It limits NVIS radiance — the energy a light source emits in the band night vision goggles detect — and defines chromaticity for NVIS colors, so cockpit lighting and displays do not degrade goggle performance. It replaced the earlier MIL-L-85762A specification.

This standard was created for military aircraft and display equipment that use Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS) technology. The specific performance requirements stated in MIL-STD 3009 are created by the Department of Defense and approved for use by the United States Air Force and all other Departments and Agencies of the Department of Defense. All E3 Displays NVIS solutions are designed and built to meet MIL-STD-3009 requirements.

MIL-STD-3009 NVIS Types and Classes Explained

Designation	What it means	Where it applies
Type I	Direct-view goggles: the pilot looks at the intensified image directly	Most helicopter and fixed-wing cockpits
Type II	Projected-image goggles: the intensified image is projected onto a combiner in the line of sight	Cockpits where crews view instruments through the combiner
Class A	Goggles with a 625 nm minus-blue filter	Cockpits using green and blue-green lighting; red displays are restricted
Class B	Goggles with a 665 nm filter	Cockpits that need color displays, including some red and yellow
Class C	Goggles with a “leaky green” filter that passes a narrow green band	Aircraft with head-up display (HUD) symbology viewed through goggles

The standard also defines NVIS colors — NVIS Green A, NVIS Green B, NVIS Yellow, NVIS Red and NVIS White. E3 engineers confirm the Type, Class and color requirements of your program before design begins. For a deeper look at combat use cases, read what an NVIS display is and how it performs in low-light combat environments.

Related Standards Our NVIS Displays Are Built Around

MIL-STD-810 – environmental durability (shock, vibration, temperature, humidity)
MIL-STD-461 – electromagnetic interference control
DO-160 – environmental conditions for airborne equipment (DO-160 capable)
AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015 – aerospace and general quality management
ITAR registration – for U.S. defense programs

Benefits of Night Vision Displays

Ultra Low Power Consumption

We took the focus away from the technology and redirected it towards your goals. Because we focus on passive enhancements and limiting backlight power drainage, your display will last longer and have continuous reliability when you need it most. Lower backlight drive also means less heat and longer backlight life — critical for battery-powered and portable NVIS devices.

Viewing Angles up to 89 Degrees

Not everyone that views your display is going to view it from a perfect dead on angle. E3 produces wide viewing angle displays with every viewer and the surrounding environment in mind so you can have optimum impact. In a two-seat cockpit or a crowded vehicle console, that means the co-pilot or second operator sees the same clear image.

All Light Readability

Displays that are not built for the right environment can cause strain in the viewer's eyes. E3 Displays can produce up to 2500 nits for the brightest viewing environments and lower nit displays for indoor viewing to create the best viewer experience. Our sunlight readable displays and all light readability displays pair with NVIS dimming, so one unit serves both daylight and night vision operations.

Extended Wide Temperature

E3 NVIS displays can be engineered as wide temperature displays for wide temperature and humidity ranges. Heat dissipation is the key to measuring display performance. The heat generated by the operation of the display is dissipated through optical material and is not blocked by insulating air layers. By filling the insulating air gap between the components, heat can be transferred to the outside environment.

Rugged, Optically Bonded Construction

E3’s proprietary LOCA optical bonding removes the air gap where dust, moisture and condensation collect, and improves resistance to shock, vibration and impact. Combined with component potting and vibration mitigation, our rugged displays are built for military vehicles, aircraft and marine decks.

Glove-Friendly Touch and EMI Protection

Custom PCAP touchscreens support heavy glove use and resist false touches from liquid splashes. EMI shielding keeps the display from interfering with radios, avionics and other mission electronics.

Long-Term Availability

Defense and aerospace programs run for decades. E3’s lifecycle and obsolescence management backs a 20-year availability guarantee, so you are not forced into requalification when a panel goes end-of-life.

Why Choose E3 Displays as Your NVIS Display Manufacturer?

Experience: more than 20 years designing mission-critical displays for military and commercial aircraft, with engineering heritage that traces back to Honeywell Avionics.
One partner, complete solution: NVIS, optical bonding, touch, EMI shielding, thermal management and chassis or computing integration in-house — no integration sub-contractors.
U.S. manufacturing: production in a Class 10K cleanroom in Phoenix, Arizona.
Compliance: ITAR registered, ISO 9001:2015, AS9100D and ISO 13485 — see our certifications and compliance.
Proven at scale: 50,000 units on active military contract.
Quality you can see: zero pixel inspection before shipment, with program results documented in our display case studies.

How to Specify Your NVIS Display or NVIS Monitor

Have these details ready to shorten the design cycle:

Night vision goggle model and the NVIS Type and Class required
Display size, aspect ratio and resolution
Maximum daylight brightness (nits) and minimum night luminance
Touch needs, including glove use
Operating environment: temperature, humidity, shock, vibration and EMI
Mechanical integration: bezel, chassis, mounting and connectors
Quantities, program length and lifecycle requirements

Get a MIL-STD-3009 Compliant Night Vision Display Built for Your Mission

Whether you need an NVIS filter added to an existing screen or a fully custom NVIS monitor for a new cockpit, vehicle or vessel, E3 Displays engineers the display around your goggles, your lighting and your environment. Call our engineers at 602-288-9758, or start with the Product Selection Guide to build your night vision display.

Our Experienced Team is Ready to Help

Our E3 Displays team has expertise in every type of display technology, whether big or small. We will help you choose or design the display that best fits your needs, while always keeping quality and budget in mind. Here at E3 Displays, we specialize in custom displays use our product selection guide today to get started on your project today!

Talk to an E3 Engineer Request a Custom Quote

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a night vision (NVIS) display?

An NVIS display is a screen designed to be compatible with Night Vision Imaging Systems. It limits near-infrared and excess visible light so night vision goggles do not bloom or lose gain, while the screen stays readable to the operator by day and by night.

What is MIL-STD-3009?

MIL-STD-3009 is the U.S. Department of Defense standard for NVIS-compatible aircraft lighting and displays. It sets limits on NVIS radiance and defines chromaticity for NVIS colors so displays do not degrade night vision goggle performance. It replaced MIL-L-85762A.

Why do standard displays interfere with night vision goggles?

Standard LCD backlights emit red and near-infrared energy that night vision goggles amplify. Through the goggles, the screen blooms into a bright halo, the goggle's automatic gain drops, and the outside scene darkens, reducing the operator's situational awareness.

What is the difference between NVIS Class A and Class B?

Class A goggles use a 625 nm minus-blue filter, so cockpit displays must avoid most red light. Class B goggles use a 665 nm filter, which allows more color, including some red and yellow. Class C uses a leaky green filter for HUD symbology.

Can an existing display be made NVIS compatible?

Yes, in most cases. E3 Displays can install an NVIS filter in the front or backlight assembly of most displays. When the backlight's infrared output is too high, a redesigned NVIS backlight or a fully custom NVIS display is the better route.

Is an NVIS display the same as a thermal imaging display?

No. Thermal imagers sense heat radiated by objects, while night vision goggles intensify small amounts of ambient and near-infrared light. An NVIS display is designed so its own light does not overwhelm those goggles.

Are NVIS displays readable in direct sunlight?

Yes. E3 NVIS displays can reach up to 2,500 nits for bright daylight and dim smoothly to night-vision levels, so one display serves both day and night operations.

What is the difference between an NVIS display and an NVIS monitor?

The terms are often used interchangeably. "NVIS display" usually refers to the panel or display module, while "NVIS monitor" describes a complete enclosed unit. E3 supplies both, including chassis and computing integration as a single part number.

Which industries use NVIS displays?

NVIS displays are used in military and commercial aviation, military ground vehicles, marine navigation and surveillance, search and rescue, mining, construction, medical diagnostics and hunting — anywhere operators use night vision goggles.

Where are E3 Displays NVIS displays manufactured?

E3 Displays designs and builds its NVIS displays in Phoenix, Arizona, in a Class 10K cleanroom. The company is ITAR registered and supports U.S. defense and aerospace programs.