Thermal goggles

History and usage
During the 1960s, the Soviets managed to develop a portable version of the passive infra-red nightvision device/FLIR system that was recently installed on gunships in the West. They are also confused with the active infra-red nightvision devices (such as the AN-PAS-5). Naked Snake managed to procure some in Tselinoyarsk during both his missions there in 1964.

During the San Hieronymo Takeover, thermal goggles were kept in areas with infrared sensors. Naked Snake and his resistance group later procured/developed and made use of them during their mission to stop Gene's rebellion.

Infrared goggles were utilized during the Outer Heaven Uprising, namely to monitor the location of infrared sensors nearby. FOXHOUND operative Solid Snake, during his mission in Outer Heaven, also made use of the infrared goggles to evade them.

Zanzibar Land utilized infrared goggles during the Zanzibar Land Disturbance, namely to monitor their various security devices. Solid Snake later managed to procure them and use them for similar purposes.

The Sons of Big Boss kept some Thermal Goggles. Solid Snake later managed to procure some to identify infrared sensors as well as identify enemies utilizing stealth camouflage.

The Sons of Liberty utilized infrared sensors during their takeover on the Big Shell. Raiden later managed to procure some.

Behind the scenes
The Thermal Goggles are a regular occurrence in the Metal Gear series.

The thermal goggles enable Snake to see different objects in the surrounding area depending on their heat signatures.

They are useful for
 * Spotting enemies behind walls
 * Finding The End in Metal Gear Solid 3
 * Detecting infra-red or laser beams
 * Following footprints
 * Finding food (and item boxes)
 * Seeing enemies equipped with stealth camouflage (for example, The Fear in Metal Gear Solid 3)
 * Seeing enemies who are otherwise difficult to see (for example, hiding in bushes)
 * Searching for claymore mines if a mine detector is unavailable.
 * Searching for booby traps
 * Searching for Indian Gavials and other animals which can be killed / captured for food

Thermal goggles can be used in conjunction with sniper rifles for greater visual enhancement.

They were invented by the Soviet Union, a fact that surprised Sigint when he discovered that they invented a portable version of a passive infrared night-vision device, as the US military just barely managed to install the passive infrared night-vision devices on aircraft.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops



 * Claymores are almost invisible to thermal goggles.
 * The use of thermal goggles is limited by its battery level.
 * Unless the player has acquired them in the Warhead Storage, they must raise their Technical Level high enough to have them developed for use.
 * This is the best equipment to use in the battle identify Python more easily as he deliberately fills the stage with liquid nitrogen mist to drastically reduce visibility.

Trivia

 * In Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance and Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes the colors used were changed to be more realistic than the original releases of the games (in which the Thermal Goggles turned everything red, with higher temperatures (and item boxes) being brighter red.)
 * In both Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance, the coolant's spray is shown as a higher temperature than the surrounding area by the Thermal Goggles (despite the fact that the spray can freeze things on contact).
 * The Solid Eye in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots has a night vision mode, which serves a similar purpose to the Thermal Goggles (to an extent).

Gameplay
"Infrared Goggles Goggles that display heat source patterns visually. Let you see the location of infrared sensors."

- Infrared Goggles description from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake

"An optical device that renders targets visible by their heat emissions. Battery powered."

- Thermal goggles description from Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops