TN2-1

The TN2-1 was a biocular night vision device designed and manufactured by the French company Sopelem in the late 1980s. It incorporates technology from both Generation 1 and Generation 2 night vision systems, providing an improved and more compact option for passive, light-amplifying viewing. The TN2-1 was an advanced device for its time, enabling its users, such as the French GIGN, to see in low-light conditions by amplifying ambient light without relying on bulky infrared illuminators found in earlier technologies.

The TN2-1 features two optical lenses to be viewed by both eyes, providing a more natural and immersive experience compared to monocular devices. The device was developed in the late 1980s, a period when night vision technology was rapidly advancing from the early Generation 1 systems of the 1950s and the Vietnam War. While not a pure Generation 2 system, it incorporated Gen. 2 improvements, such as a more sensitive photocathode, to provide superior image quality for its time. Early night vision devices were developed for the military, and systems like the TN2-1 represented a leap forward in miniaturization and performance and were therefore heavily relied on by elite forces like the GIGN in France.