Armasight Watchman IR VCSEL Illuminator Review

I recently ran the Armasight Watchman IR Illuminator through night vision goggles while helmet-mounted and came away impressed. This is a dedicated IR tool that cannot be seen without NV gear. The beam can be adjusted from a tight spot, around 3 degrees, to a wide flood, near 14 degrees. In narrow mode, it easily reached past 1000 yards. Unfortunately, it’s hard to tell that in the video (below). In wide mode, it illuminates an outstanding field of view evenly with no blotchy hotspots. The light was clean and consistent throughout the range.

The Watchman operates on a single 18650 rechargeable battery and features three adjustable brightness levels. It is built from aircraft-grade aluminum, carries an IP67 waterproof rating, and includes a 30 mm ring mount. The MSRP is approximately $199, making it one of the more budget-conscious and accessible quality VCSEL-based illuminators available today.

The VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) source is what distinguishes this from most IR illuminators on the market. Older edge-emitting diodes push light from the edge of the wafer and tend to produce uneven beams with speckle and hot spots. VCSELs emit light perpendicular to the wafer surface, which results in a more uniform, collimated, and efficient beam. In practice, this means the Watchman gives smooth IR illumination with less wasted light and fewer artifacts. The result is a beam that looks natural through night vision and reduces eye fatigue over time.

VCSELs are only starting to appear in consumer-level units. The very highest-end military and enthusiast options, such as the B.E. Meyers KIJI series, already use VCSEL technology for exactly these reasons. The Watchman brings some of that same performance at a fraction of the cost. After testing it, I see the benefit. The beam is adjustable, consistent, and useful in a range of real conditions. For anyone running night vision, the Watchman is a strong and affordable way to step into modern VCSEL illumination.

Visit Armasight for more information.

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