A report from I24 news explains: Modern night-vision technology is considered one of the most complex and closely protected capabilities in the global defense world—and Israel is one of its dominant players.
Two completely different technologies are commonly called “night vision”: star-light amplification, which boosts faint light tens of thousands of times but fails in total darkness, and thermal imaging, the truly revolutionary one.
The theoretical basis for thermal imaging was discovered in 1800 by physicist William Herschel. Nazi Germany made the first military attempt during World War II, but the systems required a massive infrared lamp. The real breakthrough came in the Vietnam War, when lamp-free thermal imaging allowed US helicopters to detect Vietcong fighters in complete jungle darkness.
Israel’s first major operational use came during the Yom Kippur War. Tanks from Battalion 74 used thermal systems in the night battles on the Golan Heights, giving the IDF a decisive tactical edge over Syrian armor. Since then, night dominance has become a core element of IDF doctrine.