The AN/PAS-13B Thermal Weapon Sight (TWS) is an infrared sight developed for the United States military by Raytheon. The sight is designed for use on small arms in the U.S. military's inventory, but it can also be used as a standalone observation device. The AN/PAS-13B uses thermal imaging so that it can be used day or night. Thermal imaging also allows the sight to see through smoke or fog, things that may normally obscure other night vision devices. The AN/PAS-13 first became operationally capable with the U.S. Army in 1998 and has reached a total production of 33,400 units.[1]
Medium Wide: 18x10.8 degrees Narrow 6x3.6 degrees Heavy Wide: 9x5.4 degrees Narrow: 3x1.8degrees
Range of detection
Medium Detect Human: 1.2km Detect Vehicle: 4.2km Heavy Detect Human: 2.8km Detect Vehicle: 6.9km
System zoom
Medium 5x Heavy 10x
Design and featuresedit
The view through an AN/PAS-13 sight.
Due to the use of thermal imaging, the AN/PAS-13B does not require low levels of light to operate, and it will not shut off like most night vision if hit directly by light. The thermal imaging sensor within the sight requires a low temperature to operate, so a cool-down time of less than 2 minutes is required at startup. The AN/PAS-13B comes in two variants, the Medium AN/PAS-13B(V)1 and the Heavy AN/PAS-13B(V)2. The Medium has a smaller telescope attached, resulting in a zoom of 5x compared to the Heavy's 10x. Both AN/PAS-13Bs have programmable reticles, allowing the user to match the reticle to the weapon system the sight will be mounted on. Some reticles included in the sight include those designed for the M16 Rifle, M4 Carbine, M60 Machine Gun, M240 Machine Gun, M249, M2 Machine Gun, MK19, MK47, M24 Sniper Weapon System, and the GAU-21. The sight also has a multi-function I/O port, allowing for video to be recorded or viewed from a location other than the eyepiece. When using the eyepiece, the rubber cup surrounding the eyepiece must be depressed slightly to engage the display and cooling mechanism. The image displayed for the user is black and white. The user has the ability to select whether white or black will represent hotter objects by selecting "black hot" or "white hot". AN/PAS-13Bs are powered by standard military disposable or rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.[2]
New versionsedit
AN/PAS-13 Ver. 2 mounted on an AR-15 with a brass catcher
In November 2006, three new versions of the AN/PAS-13 were ordered by the U.S. military. The Thermal Weapon Sights II include three new versions, a Light, Medium, and Heavy. All three models weigh less than the originals, weighing 1.8 lbs, 2.8 lbs, and 3.9 lbs respectively. This reduction in weight and size is due to improvements in the sensors, as well as the ability to now run the sights without being cooled. The Medium and Heavy models maintain zooms of 5× and 10×, while the Light model has a zoom of 1.55× and a FOV of 15 degrees. All three models now run on lithium AA batteries, with the Light having a battery life of 5 hours, the Medium 6.5, and the Heavy 6.5.[3] The US Armed Forces designates version 2 as MTWS (Medium Thermal Weapon Sight), and version 3 as HTWS (Heavy Thermal Weapon Sight).[4]
A new variation, the AN/PAS-13G LWTS model, is much smaller and compact making it easier to use on the M16/M4 family of rifles. It is also designed to be used with the ACOG, and M68 Close Combat Optic.[5]
thermal, weapon, sight, infrared, sight, developed, united, states, military, raytheon, sight, designed, small, arms, military, inventory, also, used, standalone, observation, device, uses, thermal, imaging, that, used, night, thermal, imaging, also, allows, s. The AN PAS 13B Thermal Weapon Sight TWS is an infrared sight developed for the United States military by Raytheon The sight is designed for use on small arms in the U S military s inventory but it can also be used as a standalone observation device The AN PAS 13B uses thermal imaging so that it can be used day or night Thermal imaging also allows the sight to see through smoke or fog things that may normally obscure other night vision devices The AN PAS 13 first became operationally capable with the U S Army in 1998 and has reached a total production of 33 400 units 1 AN PAS 13C Thermal Weapon SightAN PAS 13 Light Weapon Thermal Sight LWTS TypeScope and cameraPlace of originUnited StatesCategoryMilitaryProduction historyDesignerRaytheonManufacturerRaytheonProduced1998No built33 400VariantsLight Medium and HeavySpecificationsWeightMedium 5 pounds 2 3 kg Heavy 5 5 pounds 2 5 kg Dimensions L H W Medium 15 8x6 3x6 3 inchesHeavy 18 11x6 3x6 3 inchesCont Operation h 7 hoursField of vision MediumWide 18x10 8 degrees Narrow 6x3 6 degreesHeavyWide 9x5 4 degreesNarrow 3x1 8degreesRange of detectionMediumDetect Human 1 2kmDetect Vehicle 4 2kmHeavyDetect Human 2 8kmDetect Vehicle 6 9kmSystem zoomMedium 5x Heavy 10xDesign and features edit nbsp The view through an AN PAS 13 sight Due to the use of thermal imaging the AN PAS 13B does not require low levels of light to operate and it will not shut off like most night vision if hit directly by light The thermal imaging sensor within the sight requires a low temperature to operate so a cool down time of less than 2 minutes is required at startup The AN PAS 13B comes in two variants the Medium AN PAS 13B V 1 and the Heavy AN PAS 13B V 2 The Medium has a smaller telescope attached resulting in a zoom of 5x compared to the Heavy s 10x Both AN PAS 13Bs have programmable reticles allowing the user to match the reticle to the weapon system the sight will be mounted on Some reticles included in the sight include those designed for the M16 Rifle M4 Carbine M60 Machine Gun M240 Machine Gun M249 M2 Machine Gun MK19 MK47 M24 Sniper Weapon System and the GAU 21 The sight also has a multi function I O port allowing for video to be recorded or viewed from a location other than the eyepiece When using the eyepiece the rubber cup surrounding the eyepiece must be depressed slightly to engage the display and cooling mechanism The image displayed for the user is black and white The user has the ability to select whether white or black will represent hotter objects by selecting black hot or white hot AN PAS 13Bs are powered by standard military disposable or rechargeable lithium ion batteries 2 New versions edit nbsp AN PAS 13 Ver 2 mounted on an AR 15 with a brass catcherIn November 2006 three new versions of the AN PAS 13 were ordered by the U S military The Thermal Weapon Sights II include three new versions a Light Medium and Heavy All three models weigh less than the originals weighing 1 8 lbs 2 8 lbs and 3 9 lbs respectively This reduction in weight and size is due to improvements in the sensors as well as the ability to now run the sights without being cooled The Medium and Heavy models maintain zooms of 5 and 10 while the Light model has a zoom of 1 55 and a FOV of 15 degrees All three models now run on lithium AA batteries with the Light having a battery life of 5 hours the Medium 6 5 and the Heavy 6 5 3 The US Armed Forces designates version 2 as MTWS Medium Thermal Weapon Sight and version 3 as HTWS Heavy Thermal Weapon Sight 4 A new variation the AN PAS 13G LWTS model is much smaller and compact making it easier to use on the M16 M4 family of rifles It is also designed to be used with the ACOG and M68 Close Combat Optic 5 References edit AN PAS 13 LTWS AN PAS 13C Deagel com Retrieved 2010 05 05 AN PAS 13B Thermal Weapon Sight TWS PDF Raytheon Archived from the original PDF on 2010 07 05 Retrieved 2010 05 05 PAS 13 Thermal Weapon Sights On Order Defense Industry Daily 2009 03 29 FM 3 22 9 Global Security Retrieved 2011 05 24 http www insighttechnology com 13 products light weapon thermal sight lwts permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title AN PAS 13 amp oldid 997135571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
