The United States also had parallel systems development of the same technology, installing it onto their M1 and M3s and introduced to the United States Army during World War II, although it required infrared sensors in order to be effective.īy 1964, the Soviets had developed a portable night vision goggles that didn't require infrared sensors. By the end of World War II, they were installed into over fifty Panzer tanks, and a man-portable version, the Vampir, was utilized for the Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle.
Night vision devices were first developed in 1935 by German electrical equipment manufacturer AEG, and formally introduced to the Wehrmacht in 1939.