Night Vision Devices Market

Market Overview

The global night vision device market size was valued at USD 8.28 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 16.35 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 7.86% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The primary aspect that drives the global night vision device market is the surging military spending by several nations across the globe. The flourishing adoption of night vision devices in the law enforcement sector is further expected to boost market growth.

Night vision is a technology that improves visibility in low-light or completely dark environments. It enables individuals to see objects and environments that would be difficult or impossible to perceive with the naked eye at night or in dim lighting. Night vision systems can enhance the existing light or detect infrared radiation, which is subsequently transformed into visible images through data conversion.

Night vision technology has extensive applications, including military operations, surveillance, wildlife observation, and security. Typical night vision equipment consists of an image intensifier tube, a lens for gathering light, and a display for presenting the amplified image to the user. The image intensifier tube enhances the visibility of even the most minuscule light sources by amplifying the incoming light. Each generation of night vision technology improves image quality, sensitivity, and overall performance.

Market Dynamics

Global Night Vision Devices Market Drivers

Increasing Military Expenditure

Military expenditures are increasing worldwide. For instance, in February 2022, the Finance Minister of India allocated INR 525,166.15 crore to the Ministry of Defense for the fiscal year 2022–23. This represents an increase of INR 46,970 crore, or 10%, over the previous year's allocation of INR 478,196 crore and the most significant rise in the defense budget in recent years. Therefore, rising military expenditures are expected to drive the market significantly.

Additionally, the increasing focus of governments on enhancing defense and military infrastructure will increase demand for night vision devices. The growing threats from various international defense forces pave the way for improving the surveillance of the borders throughout the day and night, thereby propelling the reliance on various night vision devices.

Increasing Adoption from Law Enforcement

In law enforcement, night vision equipment is most commonly found on tactical operators' helmets seeking to achieve an objective with stealth and surprise. Night vision technology is indispensable for law enforcement and public safety operations. These devices enable police and law enforcement agencies to conduct effective surveillance, search and rescue missions, and crime prevention operations at night.

Night vision devices allow officers to precisely apprehend suspects, locate missing persons, and respond to emergencies. Night vision allows law enforcement to monitor and deter criminal activity in urban areas where criminals may exploit the cover of darkness. These devices improve decision-making, reduce officer risk, and enhance outcomes in crucial law enforcement operations by augmenting visibility in low-light conditions. Thus, night vision technology is indispensable for maintaining public safety and ensuring effective policing even during the darkest hours of the night.

Global Night Vision Devices Market Restraint

High Cost Associated with Maintenance

The night-vision systems are subjected to challenging battlefield circumstances and extensive military use. The expense of replacing and maintaining a night vision gadget is prohibitively expensive. The increased price of near-vision device systems relates to practical and durable hardware. The technology requires a larger initial investment because of the high cost of the image tube, which can run into millions to develop, manufacture, and install.

Although night vision cameras are gradually becoming a frequent necessity, the high maintenance expenses are a disincentive to their broad deployment. According to Zicom Electronic Security Systems, the annual maintenance cost of night vision cameras might reach up to 1.5 times the initial equipment cost over three to five years. Therefore, the high cost of maintenance is expected to restrict market growth.

Global Night Vision Devices Market Opportunities

Evolution of Sensor Fusion Technology 

The implementation of sensor fusion technology is an important market trend. Incorporating sensors into night vision devices enables precise estimations. Two major technologies, Thermal Imaging and image intensification, comprise sensor fusion. Combining the two technologies will grant users access to a broad visible light spectrum, from near-IR to long-wave IR. The military, law enforcement, and security personnel will benefit from sensor fusion technology.

Using sensor fusion technology, users can transmit images to a command center for information verification or general intelligence gathering and observation. Consequently, the demand for sensor fusion technology in the military is increasing. For military operations, sophisticated military equipment incorporating multiple technologies is utilized. Thus, sensory fusion technology will create opportunities for global night vision device market growth during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

Based on region, the global night vision device market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America is the most significant global night vision device market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.36% during the forecast period. The increased spending on military and defense in the region has allowed companies to conduct R&D activities, resulting in innovations that enable them to manage the safety and security of their people and their borders. Increased night vision use in firefighting activities to further enhance night-time aerial firefighting capabilities increases the adoption of night vision devices in the region.

In addition, companies in the market are also developing new technologies in applications such as aviation. In March 2022, Canada-based technology firm Baanto International launched a 27-inch ShadowSense touchscreen technology designed for defense forces. This touchscreen fulfills the Night Vision Imaging Systems (NVIS) requirements, which can be deployed in missions regardless of ambient light level. Likewise, the regional governments aim to evolve their night vision capabilities through development, integration, experimentation, laboratory and platform tests, and evaluation with integration with various systems in use.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 7.73% over the forecast period. Countries such as the UK, Austria, Switzerland, and Germany, among others, are the critical contributors to the high revenue share of the European region. The major driving force for the market is government initiatives regarding security, counter-terrorism, and the need to provide emergency services in regions with low visibility or ambient light. Recently, there have been increased government investments to procure advanced technological equipment for night vision capabilities in the region. For instance, in January 2022, the Spanish Army released an approximately EUR 1 million tender to procure night vision goggles. This procurement is part of improving the personal equipment of troops.

Companies in the region are also partnering with technology companies to develop advanced night vision systems. For instance, Theon Sensors has recently partnered with HENSOLDT Optronics and SAFRAN Electronics and Defense to co-produce and maintain its night vision binoculars and further develop optronics systems, including thermal imaging.

In Asia-Pacific, the night vision device market is expected to grow significantly owing to rising government spending on defense infrastructure for enhanced personnel capabilities. With the development of new technologies, the cost of night vision devices is expected to be reduced, enabling increased spending by end-users. Companies in the region are raising investments to develop and produce night vision devices. In April 2022, Shenzhen GD Digital Ltd., based in China, launched a Kickstarter fundraiser for GAODI night goggles, a compact, lightweight night vision solution with dual TFT 1.4-inch displays, offering a resolution of 390 x 390. The device has achieved 100% funding within the first 24 hours of listing.

In addition, regional companies are launching new night vision devices, boosting market growth. For instance, in March 2022, MKU Limited announced the Netro TD-5100 Driver Night Sight and Ntero NB 3100 Aviation Night Vision Goggles at the DSA Malaysia.

The Middle East and African regions include the UAE, Dubai, South Arabia, Africa, and others. Businesses and governments in these regions are adopting fast-paced technological developments and collaborations within the night vision device market. Besides, the growth in military and defense spending is augmenting the regional market's growth. In addition, increased spending on developing robust defense capabilities is expected to boost the market significantly. According to the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, April 2021, the combined military spending of the Middle Eastern countries was USD 143 billion in 2020. The regional market is expected to grow with the increase in military expenditure in major regional countries.

Segmental Analysis

The global night vision device market is segmented by type, technology, and application.

Based on type, the global market for night vision devices is divided into cameras, goggles, rifle scopes, monoculars, binoculars, and others. 

The camera segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 7.37% during the forecast period. Night vision cameras protect valuable assets by capturing video evidence of vandalism, theft, and illegal activity in low-light conditions. Most standard security systems or cameras often fail to fulfill this task. In addition, advanced night vision security cameras enable an impressive array of features to make after-hours video surveillance easy, efficient, and accurate. They are one of the fastest-growing security systems in the global market. As a result, these cameras are being preferred across various industries and, in some cases, by several individuals for residential, public infrastructure, and industrial applications.

Riflescopes are devices that contain a series of lenses used for magnification and some reticles, an aiming instrument that indicates where your bullet should impact. Night vision riflescopes are weapon-mounted night vision devices with multiple reticle patterns. Sometimes referred to as starlight scopes. Digital night vision scopes, like most other night vision optics, may be outfitted with night vision tubes ranging from Gen 1 to Gen 3 FLAG. Manufacturers of night-hunting scopes are continually improving their products. Hence, digital night vision hunting scopes have become considerably more popular recently.

Based on technology, the global market for night vision devices is bifurcated into thermal imaging, image intensifiers, infrared illumination, and others. 

The thermal imaging segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.02% over the forecast period. Thermal imaging cameras employ thermographic technology to detect the relative difference in temperature of an object to release or emit heat. Instead of visible light, thermal imaging captures high-frequency infrared light (IR) and heat. In addition, the thermal imaging system catches thermal-IR light, scans it with an array of IR detector elements, analyzes the IR light as a heat map, and then converts it into electrical impulses. The impulses are processed by the device's processing unit, which turns the data into an image and delivers it to the display. Thermal imaging systems can be effectively employed in environments of complete darkness because of their immunity to interference caused by smoke or fog.

Safety and security play significant roles in hazardous industrial environments. Technological developments in video surveillance systems, like infrared imaging, allow real-time control of the production processes. They have also enabled the detection of several factors that are hidden from the human eye. According to the sources of The Japan Times, the surveillance system provided by the Olympics sponsor, Panasonic Corp., combines infrared sensors and cameras. The organizers hope the new system will allow a high level of security despite having venues spread across the country. Such collaborations will drive the infrared illumination market.

Based on application, the global market for night vision devices is segmented into military and defense, wildlife spotting and conservation, surveillance, navigation, and other applications. 

The military and defense segment is the largest revenue contributor to the market and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.26% throughout the forecast period. In the 1930s, German tanks were the first to deploy night vision in the military. The original form of these gadgets was pricey and cumbersome, but they provided significantly greater vision than the naked eye. Night vision devices are crucial gadgets of armed forces, and most modern armies equip each of their soldiers with these devices. In addition, night vision aids military forces in defending an area or scanning for threats, such as tanks or persons wishing to harm them. The utilization of these gadgets results in a greenish tinge in the visual perception of the surroundings due to the manner in which light is reflected off the landscape.

Night vision devices are also used for surveillance applications not specific to the military or defense. Various end-users, including individuals, use night vision surveillance devices for monitoring and security. These devices can be found in places such as shopping malls, movie theaters, and outlets for prestigious items and goods, among various others. Modern movie theaters have implemented various security measures to prevent moviegoers from bringing recording equipment into the theater. The public is closely watched by staff wearing night-vision goggles, and several theaters have metal detectors installed.

Recent Developments

• November 2022: Kyocera Corporation announced that it developed an Automotive Night Vision System capable of identifying collision-risk objects in low-visibility driving conditions, like at night or in rain, snow, fog, or smoke. The system is anticipated to reduce traffic accidents and promote safer driving.
• December 2022: PARD, a night vision and thermal imaging specialist, announced that it is bringing two of its most popular digital clip-on night vision systems to the North American market: NV007V and NV007SP.