B-G3, ORKA-2, MAMBA-S: the soldier’s vision kit
Quick answer: The vision devices in FOTONİKS‘ dismounted soldier category come down to three main products: the B-G3 night vision goggle with an image intensifier tube, the ORKA-2 cooled thermal hand-held camera with fusion imaging, and the MAMBA-S lightweight thermal hand-held imager. All three are separate items added to the soldier’s load. A night vision tube works by amplifying available low light, while a thermal detector images a heat signature. That distinction determines which mission each device is carried on.
B-G3: the domestic entry in tube-based night vision
According to the company’s official page, B-G3 is a lightweight, helmet-mountable device that converts between binocular and monocular use and operates on the image intensifier tube principle. The published figures include a 40-degree field of view, 100 hours of battery life and 30 millimetres of eye relief. Alongside the integrated battery compartment, an external battery pack and a standard helmet mount interface are offered. The tube manufacturer and generation (such as Gen 2+ or Gen 3) have not been officially disclosed, and that component determines both cost and performance in tube-based devices.
ORKA-2: coordinate generation in the soldier’s hands
ORKA-2 is the best-equipped device in the category. The official page lists a cooled 640×512 thermal detector (12 micron pixel pitch), a day camera, fusion imaging, a laser rangefinder, a GPS receiver and a digital magnetic compass in one product; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and onboard recording are also among the stated features. That combination turns the device from a simple thermal imager into a reconnaissance tool capable of generating target coordinates. The system-scale version of the same function is found in the ATLAS family and the vehicle-mounted version in the KESKİN family.
MAMBA-S: a thermal imager built around low weight
MAMBA-S is a small hand-held thermal imager designed to extend observation capability in reconnaissance and surveillance. The published figures are 3x magnification, a 30 millimetre objective diameter and 65 millimetres of eye relief. In addition to thermal and day imaging, this product also carries a laser rangefinder, GPS and a digital compass, with Wi-Fi connectivity listed. The manufacturer positions the device on its light and ergonomic build; its weight has not been officially disclosed.
Official data for the three devices
| Feature | B-G3 | ORKA-2 | MAMBA-S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating principle | Image intensifier tube | Cooled thermal + day + fusion | Thermal + day |
| Mode of use | Helmet-mounted, binocular/monocular | Hand-held | Hand-held |
| Resolution | Tube-based (no pixel count) | 640×512, 12 μm pixel pitch | Not officially disclosed |
| Magnification / field of view | 40° field of view | 18.2°x14.6° wide angle | 3x magnification, 30 mm objective |
| Target location | None | LRF + GPS + compass | LRF + GPS + compass |
| Battery life | 100 hours | Not officially disclosed | Not officially disclosed |
| Connectivity | None | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, onboard recording | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Who uses them?
User information at the device level has not been officially disclosed. In the 2021 MSI Turkish Defence Review (MSI TDR) interview, general manager Cem Yazıcıoğlu said the company worked with all security agencies including the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the General Directorate of Security. The company presented this category to the European law enforcement market at the Enforce Tac exhibition in Nuremberg in 2026 and to the Southeast Asian market at DSA in Kuala Lumpur. Sights fitted to the soldier’s weapon fall outside this file; they are examined in the weapon sight family file, while the vehicle-mounted equivalents of these devices appear in the thermal driving cameras file.
Frequently asked questions
Which tube does B-G3 use?
The manufacturer and generation of the image intensifier tube have not been officially disclosed. The company’s official page states only that the device works on the tube principle and converts between binocular and monocular use.
What is the difference between thermal and tube-based night vision?
A tube device amplifies the weak light already present; it gives a natural image under starlight but is limited in total darkness and in fog or smoke. A thermal device images heat differences; it works without any light and behind smoke, but renders detail and texture differently.
What does ORKA-2’s fusion mode do?
It merges the images from the thermal and day sensors in a single frame. The manufacturer describes the mode as using the strengths of both sensors at once.
Are these devices exported?
Export information at the device level has not been officially disclosed. The company exhibited its dismounted soldier systems at Enforce Tac and DSA in 2026; the export model is examined in a separate file.
How does one choose between MAMBA-S and ORKA-2?
According to the official data, ORKA-2 is aimed at longer-range reconnaissance with its cooled detector and fusion imaging, while MAMBA-S suits mobile tasks through its light weight. No numerical comparison is possible because range figures have not been published.
Sources and verification note
- https://www.fotoniks.com.tr/tr/urun/gece-gorus-gozlugu-b-g3 — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://www.fotoniks.com.tr/tr/urun/sogutmali-termal-kamera-orka-2 — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://www.fotoniks.com.tr/tr/urun/kucuk-termal-el-durbunu-mamba-s — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://www.fotoniks.com.tr/tr/kategori/muharip-er-sistemleri — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://www.savunmahaber.com/en/fotoniks-cem-yazicioglu-10-th-year-anniversary-interview/ (MSI TDR, May 23, 2021; via archived copy) — Accessed: August 12, 2026
Technical values are manufacturer statements. Tube generation, range and delivery quantities have not been officially disclosed.
