Integrated Multi-Spectral Periscope for the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV)

SBIR topic DON27BZ02-NV008 (U.S. Department of Defense – Navy), Phase I and II. Open to U.S. small businesses. Opens: December 2, 2026. Closes: January 6, 2027. Current periscopic vision systems on Marine Corps combat vehicles are limited to daylight optical performance, over a limited Field of View (FoV), and lack the ability to integrate modern digital imaging, thermal, and night vision technologies. The new system shall provide daylight, low-light/night vision, and thermal (IR) imaging capabilities through a single, compact, and modular unit; and enhance situational awareness, target detection, and crew safety for Marines during water, transition, and land operating environments. This SBIR topic seeks to develop an integrated camera-based periscope module that: • Provides visible (Electro-Optical [EO]), night vision (Near-Infrared Low-Level Laser (or Light) [NIR/LLL]), and long-wave infrared (LWIR) imaging in a compact unit. • Is retrofit-compatible with existing periscope housings used in the USMC ACV FOV, or is capable of replacing optical viewports with an electronic display module. • Includes onboard image fusion and low-latency video output for vehicle displays and augmented-reality systems. • Meets ruggedization standards (MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461D, and EC Standard 60529, rating IP66) for temperature, shock, vibration, EMI, dust and water resistance. • Provides hardware resistance to seawater corrosion, as tested in accordance with GMW 14872, “Exterior, Exposure D” as stated in Table A3. • Does not result in significant weight increase over that of the standard periscope. • Supports integration with vehicle electronics architectures, including Vehicular Integration for C4ISR/EW Interoperability (VICTORY) and NATO STANAG 4609 standards. Novel design approaches may include: • Digital overlay in periscope eyepieces, merging optical and sensor imagery for seamless situational awareness. • Edge processing and AI-assisted fusion of EO/NIR/LWIR feeds to…