LAB-NVS MK2.
LAB system MK2: Light Articulated Binocular, second generation — refined by two years of field feedback from civilian and military users. The lightest articulated binocular in its class: 90 g bare housing, 380 g in lightweight configuration, 470 g in full MIL-STD-810H build. Tool-less IPD adjustment, new axes, 16 mm / 18 mm / FAT ANVIS tubes. NNVT image tube in the configurator (official JPNV distributor). 25 h battery life on a single AA cell. Controlled-atmosphere assembly and purge included. Lifetime housing warranty under normal use. From €3,387 incl. VAT.
1 / 14Weighed to the gram,
built to last.
No part is decorative. Every gram is arbitrated against a function — sealing, ergonomics, robustness. 90 g isn't a slogan: it's the outcome of a design constrained by mass.
MJF PA11 printed
Polyamide 11 sintered in Multi-Jet Fusion — high mechanical strength, near-perfect isotropy, no weak layers. The material that makes 90 g possible without sacrificing robustness.
Marine stainless steel (A4 / 316L)
The axis system is fully reworked on the MK2: refined friction adjustment, tighter mechanical tolerances, longer service life — without a single added gram. Marine stainless steel for the pod articulation: salt shocks, MIL-STD-810H vibrations, zero play after cycling.
7075-T6 aluminium
On critical zones (bridge interface, mounting interfaces, IPD knob): anodised 7075-T6 aerospace alloy. Decent thermal conductivity, controlled mass, matte anti-reflective finish.
The numbers,
exactly.
All values are measured in-house on a production build. No marketing rounding. The full MIL-STD-810H build includes image tube, 40° optical set, AA battery, eye-cup and sacrificial iris.
- Bare housing (tube lock rings included)
- 90 g
- Lightweight configuration (lightweight components)
- 380 g
- MIL-STD-810H configuration (mil-spec components)
- 470 g
- Dimensions
- 100 × 100 × 80 mm
- Image tubes
- 16 mm, 18 mm (modified MX-10160 / MX-11769) and FAT ANVIS — the 16 mm and FAT ANVIS formats are new on the MK2. In the configurator: NNVT 18 mm tubes (official JPNV distributor).
- Optics
- Standard PVS-14 (40° / 50° FOV sets in the configurator) and ANVIS optics — new on the MK2.
- Mount
- Mounting interface on market standards. Shroud / mount not supplied — customer-installed.
- IPD (inter-pupillary distance)
- 56 – 72 mm
- IPD adjustment
- Tool-less ("soft IPD") — two integrated half-moons mechanically memorise the position, alignment restored on every pod flip
- Control
- Single push-button between the brows, refined — usable with thick gloves
- Pods
- Independent flip-up · auto shut-off as soon as a pod is raised (protects the tubes, preserves the battery)
- Strap attachment
- Openwork sections of the housing — attach your strap wherever suits you
- Power source
- 1× AA / LR6 battery (alkaline or lithium)
- Battery life
- 25 h minimum (MIL-STD-810H build, alkaline)
- FOM
- 1200 – 2200+ (depending on selected tube)
- Phosphor
- P43 (green) or P45 (white phosphor, recommended)
- Gating
- Available on NVT4 AG tubes and above
- Waterproof rating
- IP-68 — 2 m immersion / 30 min
- Mechanical resistance
- MIL-STD-810H (shocks, vibrations, extreme temperatures)
- Temperature range
- −30 °C to +50 °C operating
- Design
- France
- Printing (MJF PA11)
- France
- Assembly
- France — by hand, individual quality check
- Lead time
- 30 to 45 business days
- Housing warranty
- Lifetime under normal use — France-based after-sales
- Tube warranty
- 2-year NNVT/JPNV factory warranty
- Service included
- Controlled atmosphere assembly and nitrogen purge included (configurator)
Tubes and optics,
your choice.
New on the MK2: the same mechanical base now opens onto 16 mm and FAT ANVIS tubes and ANVIS optics, on top of the standard 18 mm / PVS-14 — you keep the freedom to upgrade your tube or swap optics without touching the housing. The mounting interface follows market standards; the shroud / mount itself is not supplied and is customer-installed.
16 mm · 18 mm · FAT ANVIS — one mechanical base
The online configurator offers NNVT 18 mm tubes (modified MX-10160 / MX-11769) — Silicate is an official JPNV distributor for France and Europe, every tube ships with its factory data sheet. New on the MK2: the 16 mm compact (mass gain) and FAT ANVIS (aviation) formats are natively compatible, supply by quote.
PVS-14 in the configurator · ANVIS compatible
PVS-14 sets (40° / 50° FOV) directly available in the configurator — the civilian and ground base. The MK2 now accepts ANVIS optics for aviation configurations — available on request, quote within 48 h.
Mounting interface · market standards
The LAB-NVS mounting interface follows market standards. The shroud / mount itself is not commercialised by Silicate Systems and is customer-installed (see Terms of Sale).
To go
further.
Precise answers on the most recurring points — FOM, phosphor, lead times, export. For the rest, contact us directly: we respond within 48 h.
What changes with the MK2?
The second generation folds in two years of field feedback from civilian and military users. On the menu: tool-less IPD adjustment ("soft IPD") with two half-moons that mechanically memorise the position on every pod flip, a refined push-button usable with thick gloves, a new axis system (improved friction, tighter tolerances, longer service life — with no added mass) and extended compatibility: 16 mm, 18 mm and FAT ANVIS tubes, PVS-14 and ANVIS optics. The bare housing stays under 90 g.
Why 90 g for the bare housing?
The housing is printed in reinforced PA11 nylon using HP's (Hewlett-Packard) MJF technology, a sintered polyamide that combines lightness with high mechanical strength. The geometry is drawn to carry only the mass required for MIL-STD-810H use, without decorative overload. Measured on the articulated-binocular segment — 470 g in full MIL-STD build, 380 g in the lightweight build, ~37% lighter than a reference DTNVS at equivalent functionality.
What is FOM and why does it matter?
The Figure of Merit (FOM) is the synthetic performance indicator for an image tube, computed as resolution (lp/mm) × SNR (signal-to-noise). Above 1800, you're in the high-end range of the NNVT catalogue (NVT6, NVT7 and NVT7+). FOM alone isn't everything — gating and phosphor also matter. See our NNVT tubes page for the full catalogue (NVT4 to NVT7+).
What's the difference between P43 (green) and P45 (white)?
P43 phosphor produces the traditional green image, perceived as brighter, with better contrast in some scenes. P45 produces a warm white-grey image, considered more natural and less tiring for prolonged use. Neither is objectively better — it's a usage choice. P45 is our default recommendation.
Is the LAB-NVS MK2 compatible with my existing optics?
Yes. The online configurator offers PVS-14 sets directly (40° and 50° FOV), the civilian and ground base. New on the MK2: ANVIS optics (aviation configurations) are now natively accepted — supply on request, quote within 48 h. The mechanical base accepts both standards.
Which tube formats are supported?
Three formats on the same mechanical base: 18 mm standard, modified MX-10160 / MX-11769 (NNVT — Silicate is an official JPNV distributor) directly in the configurator; 16 mm compact (mass gain) and FAT ANVIS (aviation kits), newly compatible on the MK2, supply on request. You don't need to change housing to migrate between formats.
What's the lead time?
30 to 45 business days from payment confirmation (and export file validation if needed). Each LAB-NVS is assembled by hand and individually quality-checked before shipping.
What battery and battery life?
A single AA / LR6 cell, mainstream consumer format — whereas most competing binoculars run on CR123, a specialty cell that's noticeably pricier to buy and to replace. Nominal battery life 25 h minimum on a standard alkaline LR6 in full MIL-STD build, more with lithium. You refill your LAB-NVS with what any supermarket sells.
What does the configurator purchase include vs the bare housing?
Every fully configured LAB-NVS includes — at no extra cost — final controlled atmosphere assembly and nitrogen purge, which keep all internal condensation and fogging out for the lifetime of the device. IP-68 sealing itself is delivered by the seals and validated unit by unit before shipping. Both services are also included on any upgrade (tube or optic) fitted in an existing Silicate housing. The bare housing purchase does not cover these steps: you assemble yourself.
What warranty on the housing and NNVT tube?
The housing is warranted for life under normal use — after-sales in France, no return abroad. The tube warranty (2-year factory) is carried by NNVT and relayed by Silicate as an official JPNV distributor: factory data sheet supplied on order, standard exchange on manufacturing defects. Tube reconditioning / upgrade also offered.
LAB-NVS
vs articulated binoculars.
Technical and price comparison with the two market-reference articulated binoculars: the PVS-31 (L3Harris, US) and the DTNVS (ACT In Black, Luxembourg). On battery life, the PVS-31 keeps the edge. On weight, price and France availability — the LAB-NVS wins.
Two ways
into the LAB-NVS.
Already have your tubes and optics? Buy the bare housing and assemble it yourself. Starting from scratch? Configure the full kit — tube, optics, sacrificial, eye-cup — in five steps.
LAB-NVS Housing MK2 only
The bare MK2 housing (90 g), ready to take your existing 16 mm, 18 mm or FAT ANVIS tubes and your PVS-14 or ANVIS optics. Ideal for migrating your current configuration to the lightest articulated binocular in its class.
Configure my LAB-NVS MK2 · from €3,387 incl. VAT
Five steps: NNVT tube (FOM 1400 to 2200+, green or white phosphor), PVS-14 optical set (40° or 50°), sacrificial, eye-cup. Live price update on every selection. 30 to 45 day delivery, 2-year France warranty.
Included at no extra cost: controlled atmosphere assembly and nitrogen purge — keeping internal condensation out over the long run. IP-68 sealing is delivered by the seals and validated unit by unit at end-of-line.