Description

Steele Industries Nighthawk-FB — Dual-Tube Gen 3 Night Vision Binocular

The Nighthawk-FB is a binocular night vision goggle built by Steele Industries from 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum. Two image intensifier tubes — one per eye — deliver the depth perception and edge-to-edge field of view that operators, hunters, and outdoor users rely on after dark. The fixed-bridge design keeps the two pods locked in alignment for a cleaner image with no wandering boresight, and Steele Industries backs the housing with a lifetime warranty.

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New to Night Vision? Start Here

Monocular vs. Binocular vs. Goggle — What’s the Difference?

A night vision monocular (like a PVS-14) is a single-tube device. One eye sees the amplified image, one eye sees natural light. Lightweight and affordable, but no depth perception under NV.

A night vision binocular (this product) uses two tubes — one per eye — to give you true stereoscopic depth perception. Walking, driving, climbing, or shooting at distance under night vision becomes dramatically easier because your brain processes distance the way it does in daylight.

The term “goggle” is often used interchangeably with binocular. In Steele Industries’ lineup, the Nighthawk-FB is both — a binocular form factor that mounts to a helmet shroud as a goggle.

What “Gen 3” Means

Image intensifier tubes are graded by generation. Gen 3 is the current US military standard — gallium arsenide photocathode, ion-barrier film (or unfilmed thin-film variants), and significantly better low-light performance and longer service life than Gen 2 tubes. Every tube option on the Nighthawk-FB is Gen 3 except where noted (the NNVT is a high-end Gen 2+ class tube manufactured to spec).

White Phosphor vs. Green Phosphor

White phosphor renders the night vision image in shades of black-and-white instead of the classic green glow. Most operators report better contrast, easier target identification, and less eye fatigue after long sessions. It is the modern preference.

Green phosphor is the traditional rendering and is still preferred by some operators for sustained wear (the human eye is most sensitive to green light), and is often priced slightly lower.

FOM (Figure of Merit) Explained

FOM is the standard quality score for an image intensifier tube. It is calculated as resolution (line pairs per millimeter) × signal-to-noise ratio. Higher FOM means a sharper, cleaner image in lower light.

• 1600–1800 FOM — Entry to mid-tier. Plenty of capability for general use, hunting, and casual operations.
• 1800–2200 FOM — Standard professional performance. The XLSH typically lands here.
• 2376+ FOM — High-performance. Excellent low-light sensitivity, clean image. Used by serious operators and selective end users.

What is a “Z1 Spot”?

A Z1 spot is a cosmetic blemish in the central image area of an intensifier tube. “Z1” refers to the zone of the tube where the spot sits — zone 1 is the center, which is the most demanding area for cosmetic standards. Tubes with Z1 spots are functionally fine and may be discounted because of where the blemish lives. Tubes without Z1 spots cost more but give you a cleaner viewing experience.

What “Autogated” Means

Autogated tubes can handle sudden bright light sources (vehicle headlights, flashlights, gunfire) without damage to the tube and with faster recovery to night-adapted viewing. All US Gen 3 tubes on this product are autogated by default. The NNVT option is also autogated.

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Why Operators Choose the Nighthawk-FB

7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum housing

CNC-machined full metal construction. Same alloy class as the RNVG — strong, proven, built to last. Lifetime warranty on the housing from Steele Industries.

Fixed bridge design

The bridge connecting the two pods is rigid — no hinge to drift, no boresight to re-zero, no tools required between uses. A fixed bridge gives you the cleanest, most repeatable alignment for use cases that demand precision.

Dual-tube binocular configuration

Two independent intensifier tubes — one per eye — deliver true stereoscopic depth perception. Massive advantage over a monocular for navigation, driving, climbing, vehicle operations, and any task that requires accurate distance judgment under night vision.

PVS-14-format tubes

The Nighthawk-FB accepts standard PVS-14 image tubes. That means a huge ecosystem of replacement and upgrade tubes is available, and a tube purchased for a PVS-14 can be re-tasked into this housing if needed.

Adjustable IPD (interpupillary distance)

Physical IPD knobs let you set the pod spacing to match your eyes — typically 55 to 72mm range. Properly set IPD eliminates the “crossed eye” effect and reduces fatigue on long missions.

Helmet-mountable

Standard NVG mount interface attaches to any Wilcox, Norotos, or Ops-Core shroud. Mount sold separately.

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Choosing Your Tube

Pick the tube that matches how seriously you’ll use the device. All US Gen 3 options ship with a 10-year manufacturer warranty.

NNVT 1600+ FOM Autogated White Phosphor
The entry point. Manufactured by North Night Vision Technology, autogated, white phosphor. Strong performer for the price. Good fit for new users, casual shooters, hunters, and outdoor users who want capable night vision without a five-figure investment.

Elbit XLSH White Phosphor with Z1 Spot
Real Elbit Systems of America Gen 3 thin-filmed tube. Standard XLSH performance, with a small cosmetic Z1 blemish near the center that drops the price below a clean tube. Performance is identical to spot-free XLSH.

Green Phosphor Gen 3 Elbit XLSH
Same Gen 3 thin-filmed Elbit tube as the XLSH white version, rendered in classic green. Some operators prefer green for extended wear.

Elbit XLSH White Phosphor < 1800 FOM (No Spots)
A clean Elbit XLSH tube with no spots on the image — priced for the slightly lower FOM. Best pick if cosmetic cleanliness matters more to you than headline performance numbers.

Elbit XLSH White Phosphor (Standard)
The benchmark professional white phosphor build. Clean Elbit XLSH tubes, no compromises. The build most operators settle on once they’ve decided NV is core kit.

Elbit XLSH White Phosphor 2376+ FOM, No Spots
Hand-picked high-FOM Elbit tubes with no spots on the datasheet. Top-tier image quality and low-light performance.

Elbit PH White Phosphor
Tighter spot specifications than the XLSH. Fewer and smaller blemishes for the cleanest viewing experience available on this housing. Premium build.

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Specifications

Configuration	Binocular, dual-tube, fixed bridge
Tube Generation	Gen 3 (US Mil-Spec) on Elbit options; Gen 2+ Autogated on NNVT
Tube Format	Standard PVS-14 image tubes
Phosphor	White or Green (per tube selection)
Housing Material	7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, CNC-machined
IPD Range	55–72 mm, adjustable via dedicated IPD knobs
Mount Interface	Standard NVG dovetail (Wilcox, Norotos, Ops-Core compatible)
Color	Black
Housing Warranty	Lifetime (Steele Industries)
Tube Warranty	10 years (Elbit Gen 3 options); manufacturer warranty (NNVT)

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Best For

• Law enforcement and security operators who need reliable binocular NV
• Military and contractor end users wanting a fixed-bridge build at a lower weight than articulating designs
• Hunters and predator hunters working at distance after dark
• Search and rescue teams
• Outdoor and overland enthusiasts who want depth perception under NV
• Existing PVS-14 owners moving up to a binocular without changing tube format

What’s in the Box

• Nighthawk-FB binocular housing (Black)
• Image intensifier tubes per selected configuration (installed and aligned)
• Manufacturer tube datasheet
• Lens covers

Helmet, NVG mount, and battery are sold separately. We are happy to recommend a complete kit — call (888) 330-7057 or contact us.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a night vision binocular and a monocular?

A monocular (like a PVS-14) uses one tube and shows the amplified image to one eye only. A binocular like the Nighthawk-FB uses two tubes — one per eye — giving you stereoscopic depth perception. That depth perception makes navigation, driving, climbing, and shooting at distance under night vision significantly easier. Both work; the binocular is the better tool when the mission requires accurate distance judgment.

Is the Nighthawk-FB Gen 3?

Yes for every Elbit tube option — those are US-manufactured Gen 3 image intensifier tubes built to military specification. The NNVT option is a high-performance Gen 2+ autogated tube built to Gen 3 image standards at a lower cost. Every option on this housing performs well above what most consumer night vision delivers.

White phosphor or green phosphor — which should I pick?

Most operators today choose white phosphor for better contrast, easier target identification, and less eye fatigue. Green phosphor is still preferred by some for sustained wear (the human eye is most sensitive to green) and is often slightly less expensive. Functionally both tubes are the same Gen 3 — the choice is about how you want the image to look. There is no wrong answer.

What does FOM mean and what should I look for?

FOM (Figure of Merit) is the standard quality score for an image intensifier tube. It is resolution multiplied by signal-to-noise ratio. Higher FOM means a sharper, cleaner image in lower light. 1600 to 1800 FOM is solid for general use and casual operations. 1800 to 2200 FOM is standard professional grade. 2376+ FOM is high-performance — a noticeable jump in sensitivity and image cleanliness.

What is a Z1 spot and is it a problem?

A Z1 spot is a cosmetic blemish in the center area of the tube. Tubes are graded by where their blemishes fall — center spots affect price more than edge spots because the center is what your eye focuses on. Tubes with Z1 spots are functionally identical to spot-free tubes; the price discount reflects appearance, not performance. If image cleanliness matters to you, pick a no-spot option. If you want best value for performance, the XLSH with Z1 spot delivers identical Gen 3 image quality at a meaningful savings.

Why is the Elbit PH option more expensive than the XLSH?

The PH (“Premium High”) spec from Elbit has tighter cosmetic standards — fewer and smaller blemishes are permitted in the image area. Same Gen 3 technology, stricter QC, cleaner image, higher price. If you want the cleanest viewing experience available on this housing, the PH is the build.

Does the Nighthawk-FB include a mount or helmet?

No. The Nighthawk-FB ships as the housing with installed and aligned tubes. NVG mounts (Wilcox G24, Norotos Titan, Ops-Core VAS) and helmets are sold separately. Call (888) 330-7057 or contact us and we will spec a complete kit for your use case.

What is the warranty?

Steele Industries backs the Nighthawk-FB housing with a lifetime warranty. US Gen 3 Elbit tubes carry a 10-year manufacturer warranty on the tube itself. The NNVT tube carries the manufacturer\’s standard warranty.