SU49/PAS 5

The SU49/PAS 5 was an early, bulky, Generation 1 night vision goggle (NVG) from the Vietnam era, used by US Special Forces like MACV-SOG, featuring an external IR illuminator and often paired with an AN/PAS 8 aiming light, representing the first attempts to give troops night fighting capabilities, a vital tech leap for secret missions. It was produced by ITT Aerospace/Optical division and is considered a first-generation (Gen 1) NVG, requiring an external Infrared (IR) light source to see in the dark.

The SU49/PAS 5 was used by elite units like MACV-SOG (Studies and Observations Group) and reportedly by forces involved in the Son Tay raid. These early devices were crucial for covert, low-light operations, giving special operators a significant advantage in the Vietnam War.