RNVG Build Kit: What’s Included and How to Build It

June 16, 2026 | Superior Tactical Editorial Team |

If you’ve been pricing out night vision, you’ve probably noticed that a “build kit” costs a lot less than a finished binocular — and that’s because you’re buying the housing and supplying the expensive part (the tubes) yourself. This guide explains exactly what an RNVG build kit includes, what else you need, and how the build comes together.

What is the RNVG?

The RNVG (Ruggedized Night Vision Goggle) is a dual-tube binocular housing from AB Night Vision, machined from billet 7075 aluminum in Bristol, Virginia. Unlike articulating designs, the RNVG uses a fixed bridge with no hinges — which is exactly why it’s considered one of the most durable binocular housings available. Two tubes give you true binocular depth perception, a major upgrade over a single-tube PVS-14 for movement, driving, and close work.

What’s actually in the build kit

A build kit is housing-only. Here’s what you’re buying versus what you still need to supply:

  • Included: the RNVG housing, plus the lens/optic options you select at checkout.
  • Not included: the two image intensifier tubes — the heart, and the cost, of any night vision build.

What you need to complete an RNVG build

  1. The RNVG housing (the build kit).
  2. Two image intensifier tubes, matched as a pair. Send us tubes you already own, or talk to us about sourcing them. Tube spec (white phosphor vs green, gain, FOM, blemish spec) is the single biggest driver of both performance and price — see our image intensifier tube guide.
  3. Optics / lenses, selectable with the kit.
  4. Assembly — DIY if you have the tools and experience, or send your tubes to us for professional assembly, collimation, and testing.

Building it yourself vs. sending it to us

A binocular build is more forgiving than a from-scratch PVS-14, but collimation still matters — a tube that’s even slightly off will strain your eyes. If you’ve built before and have the tooling, the RNVG is a clean platform to work on. If this is your first build, or you just want it dialed in correctly, our techs assemble and test RNVG builds in-house so the finished binocular is ready to run.

What it costs (roughly)

The housing is the smaller line item; budget the majority of your spend for the pair of tubes. Buying the housing as a kit and supplying your own tubes is almost always cheaper than buying a complete, pre-built binocular — that’s the whole point of building. See the RNVG build kit page for current housing pricing.

Warranty

AB Night Vision backs the RNVG housing with a lifetime warranty — a meaningful signal of how the platform holds up.

RNVG build kit FAQs

Does the RNVG build kit include tubes? No — it’s housing-only. You supply the tubes or add them through us.

RNVG or RNVG-A (ARNVG)? Choose the RNVG for the toughest, simplest fixed-bridge design. Choose the ARNVG if you want articulating pods that fold flat against the helmet. Full breakdown in our comparison guide.

Can you build it for me? Yes. Send us your tubes and we’ll assemble, collimate, and test it before it ships.

Shop the RNVG build kit.

About the Author
Superior Tactical Editorial Team
The Superior Tactical editorial team has over a decade of hands-on experience in the night vision and tactical optics industry. Our staff includes former night vision technicians, NVG trainers, and longtime industry specialists who have evaluated hundreds of image intensifier tubes and system configurations. We source, test, and write about Gen 3 night vision from a position of direct experience — not spec sheets. Every product we carry has been personally vetted, and every article we publish reflects real-world knowledge of how this equipment performs in the field.

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