NOTE: This is a used surplus item Graded Very Good - Excellent. Expect finish wear, scratches, dings, etc... (See photos )
Only one is available, the item pictured is what you will receive. Item has been tested and is in working order (See lens demo picture)
Overview of AN/PVS-5 Series:
The AN/PVS-5 series, introduced by the U.S. military in 1972, is a family of second-generation night vision goggles used for aviation and ground operations. Developed during the Vietnam War era, these dual-tube goggles improved significantly over first-generation devices like the AN/PVS-2, offering enhanced image quality and versatility. Manufactured by Litton Industries and ITT, the series evolved through three main variants—AN/PVS-5A, AN/PVS-5B, and AN/PVS-5C—with incremental upgrades through the Desert Storm era (1990–1991).
The Litton M908, an AN/PVS-5 variant, is extremely rare, with its only documented mention on a Korean Wiki page (AN/PVS-5 - Libre Wiki). It does not fully align with the core features of known documented variants. It resembles the AN/PVS-5A but uses two 1.5V AA batteries, a characteristic of the AN/PVS-5B. The M908 without batteries weighs in at 1.8lbs, equivalent to the heavier 5C. The closest model found is the M909 AN/PVS-5A Plus, referenced in a 1984 French ad for helicopter night vision (Click here for Ad Translation), but the M909 uses a single battery, not two AAs. Assuming consistent Litton model numbering, the M908 likely precedes the M909, suggesting it may be an earlier or transitional variant.
Gen 2+ and M909 “AN/PVS-5A Plus”:
Complicating matters, the M909 is labeled as AN/PVS-5A Plus, Gen 2+ technology, which includes autogating (high-light cutoff) typically associated with the AN/PVS-5C (introduced in the 1980s). Gen 2+ emerged in the mid-to-late 1980s, postdating the AN/PVS-5A’s standard Gen 2 tubes. The M908 may have autogating, but testing was avoided to prevent potential damage if it lacks this feature. (It is not recommended that you try this feature)
The M908 and M909 are late-production “hybrid” variants of the AN/PVS-5 series, blending features of the 5A, 5B, and 5C. Such hybrids could result from specialized build-to-spec contracts, select market production, or efforts to utilize surplus production parts.
Determined at checkout.
