FAQs

What is a Phantom Warrior® Light?

The Phantom Warrior® light is a flashlight, used like any other flashlight; however, Soldierss using the Phantom Warrior® flashlight are more likely to survive in a combat situation. The patented Phantom Warrior® flashlight has four possible modes: Phantom Warrior® White® mode, pure infrared mode, NVIS green mode, and cobalt blue low model. For any job that needs to be done, the Phantom Warrior® flashlight is the only light you need to carry.

 

What makes the Phantom Warrior® Light different from other flashlights?

The Phantom Warrior® light is different from other flashlights because it is the only flashlight that can be put into Phantom Warrior® White™ mode, which means that it is the only flashlight that produces a white light that is secure against enemy night vision goggles (NVGs.) In this mode the Phantom Warrior® emits only visible light, no infrared. The Phantom Warrior® is so unique, that the light is protected by several patents.

 

Can the Phantom Warrior® Light work alongside my buddy's NVGs?

When one Soldiers is wearing NVGs and his partner needs to read a map or perform some other task, the Phantom Warrior® light is the only flashlight that will not hinder the partner wearing night vision goggles. Because the Phantom Warrior® light has a low signature, a Soldiers can work with the Phantom Warrior® light and not blind his buddy's NVGs – even in a cockpit situation!

 

Why can't the enemy see me with their NVGs?

If you shine it directly AT NVGs, they will see it of course!     However, it will not look like “normal” white light under goggles so some units actually use it to signal this way, but…

A normal white or red filtered flashlight emits visible light. Unfortunately, it also emits infrared energy at an intensity 20 times greater than the visible light. To our Soldiers using a normal white or red flashlight, the infrared portion is of no use because it does not improve his ability to see. To the enemy wearing his NVGs, the infrared light coming from the filtered light is a substantial benefit. It allows him to locate our Soldiers easily because infrared light is primarily what the NVGs pick up. The Phantom White® light is a special blend of colors that radiates only visible light—NO INFRARED. Therefore, the Phantom Warrior® white light does not project the type of energy that the NVGs easily detect. Furthermore, the Phantom Warrior® has a special hood that directs the visible light only in the required location.

So, low signature plus distance is the reason that the NVG-wearing enemy cannot see our Soldiers. The Phantom Warrior® light only radiates a small amount of light that the NVG scan pick up in the first place – the enemy's distance does the rest to insure secure lighting.

 

 

 

Is there a special way to handle the Phantom Warrior® light?

While traditional light discipline techniques (e.g. using a poncho) may be used with the Phantom Warrior® they are not necessary. The Phantom Warrior® flashlight, however, should always be directed downward.  If it is directed towards the enemy, he will see the light both with his naked eye and with his NVG. The Phantom Warrior® can be visible to both the NVG and the naked eye when directed "head on," but since it has a low signature, it is secure against the NVGs when it is used properly.

 

How does the Phantom Warrior® light turn on and off?

The Phantom Warrior® light's dimmable system was designed to be easy to operate for Soldiers wearing gloves. The unit turns on and becomes brighter simply by rotating and tightening the bezel.

For one-handed operation, there is a thumb switch option available. The thumb switch can either adjust the intensity or provide a momentary "on" for signaling.

 

What is each mode used for?

The Phantom White® mode is appropriate when our Soldier needs to take a knee and read a map but is worried about being detected by enemy NVGs, or when a nearby friendly Soldier is wearing NVGs and our Soldiers does not want to blind him. At the same time, Phantom White® mode is a white light providing for the true color reading of maps.

The pure infrared mode can be used when our Soldiers needs to signal friendly forces looking for him with NVGs. The Phantom Warrior® flashlight in this mode can also be used by the Soldiers wearing the NVGs as a low level light source to enhance the night vision goggles' capability.

The Phantom Green™ mode is used by pilots and others who wear the NVIS minus blue filters on their NVGs. In this mode, the Phantom Warrior® can be directed straight into the goggles but will not be seen by them. This mode is helpful for pilots who don't want the risk of having a light directed into their goggles while flying.

Cobalt blue mode is perfect for medics who need to perform eye inspections on the battlefield and remain secure against enemy NVGs. It is also the standard secure blue used in aircraft. It is a low level blue light that illuminates before the Phantom Warrior® White® comes on.

We can put three colors (usually Phantom White® green/blue or cyan, and IR) on the Phantom Warrior TLS™ lights.

We can put one color (usually Phantom White®) on the Phantom Warrior MT™ lights.

We can put four colors (usually Phantom White® green, red, blue and IR) on the Phantom Warrior QW™ lights.

 

How do I set up each of the different modes of the Phantom Warrior® Light?

For the Original Phantom Warrior® flashlights:

By simply reversing the batteries! For Phantom Warrior® White® and cobalt blue mode, the batteries need to be positioned as shown on the side of the case. Where the Phantom Warrior® includes either the "infrared option" or "NVIS green option," the light can be a pure infrared or NVIS green source merely by reversing the batteries.

For the Phantom Warrior TLS™ and Phantom Warrior QW™ lights .

There are indicators on the side of the bezel of the flashlight and you simply rotate the bezel from color to color.  There are visible markers on the side but at night you will simply “feel” the bumps from one to the next.

 

Has the Phantom Warrior® light been tested?

The Phantom Warrior® light is probably the most tested light in military history! It has undergone extensive testing by the Army at the Human Engineering Lab at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland and the Field Artillery School at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. During those tests, the Phantom Warrior® light was shown to be far superior to either the red or blue-green filtered flashlight. It has been successfully evaluated by Natick, the Night Vision Laboratory at Fort Belvoir, and the Science Advisor at MARFORLANT at Camp LeJeune. The unit has been in use for 8 years in the Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS.) In addition to the vehicle usage, the Phantom Warrior® has been issued at JRTC since 1998, deployed with US Army Combat Medics since 1999, packed in the rucksacks of Special Operations since 1998 and has flown with US Army Aviation since 2005.   

 

Why should I get rid of my red filtered flashlight?

Your red flashlight makes you a hazard for two reasons. First, you are using a light that, while it appears dim to your eyes, gives off a large, clear signal to the enemy sniper wearing NVGs. They see you and your light as clearly as if it were daytime. Therefore, you are jeopardizing the safety of yourself and your unit with a red filtered flashlight. Even if you are working in a tent or under a poncho, light will escape and give your position away.

The second reason that the red light makes you a hazard is that you cannot do your job well with it. If you are looking at any object that has colors, a red or blue colored light will distort those colors. If you are reading a map, working with different colored fluids or wires, or performing any medical procedure, you will not be able to see colors clearly, and because of that problem, you may make a mistake that will cost someone's life.

 

 

 

Why is the blue filtered light bad?

The blue-green filtered light that some of the military is using is secure because it is not seen as easily with the NVGs as the white or red filtered light, but it is still dangerous. It is dangerous because it distorts color. Like the red filtered light that washes out all of the red and reddish colors on a map, the blue-green filtered light washes out all of the rivers, roads, boundaries, contours, and declinations that are greenish or bluish in hue. You cannot afford to misread your map. In addition, blue green filtered lights are very tiring on your eye.

 

How much light will I get with the Phantom Warrior®?

It provides 6 feet of light onto the ground. The Phantom Warrior® gives enough white light to allow you to read a map accurately, look over an engine, or walk through the woods–anything that you need to do at close range. It does not emit a bright spot of light, although it is available in both a higher intensity mode and with an optional "Inspection Option" module which is a bright white bulb which is several times brighter than other mini AA lights. It is interchangeable with the Phantom Warrior® module.

 

Is the Phantom Warrior® light waterproof?

The flashlight is waterproof up to 200 feet – even with the thumb switch option. The vehicle Phantom Warrior® is also available in a watertight version.

 

Is the light fragile?

Not at all! The Phantom Warrior® light is made to be carried by SOLDIERSS or MARINES. It is made of a tough, chemically resistant plastic that won't crack as a result of contact with most greases or fluids you handle. Although we don't recommend abusing the Phantom Warrior®, it has withstood the pressure of being thrown up against a brick wall and run over by a HMMWV!

 

What kind of batteries does it use?

The Phantom Warrior® light runs on 4 AA batteries that last an average 180 hours, depending on the intensity you select during use. The bulbs inside of the light each have an estimated life of over 50,000 hours each, so replacement will not be necessary.

 

Is the flashlight the only style?

 

Actually, the flashlight version is newer than our cockpit version, which is the unit mounted in the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS.) This cockpit version operates from any vehicle's 12 to 24 to 28 DC volt power, or on 120 volt AC. The vehicle light is interchangeable with the current standard military cockpit light.

There is also a PAR 36/46 replacement lamp version, as well as a new Phantom Tube Light™  which is a replacement for standard fluorescent tube lights found in tents, TOCs and ships.

And our Phantom Hawk® is a AAA battery light that is perfect clipped onto a vest or on a kneeboard.

 

What is your warranty policy?

Phantom Warrior® offers a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Please contact us immediately with any warranty questions. Phantom Warrior® lights are guaranteed to be free from defects in material and workmanship for the normal life of the light, and includes LEDs. All replaceable items such as O-rings, lanyards, batteries, bulbs and flashing electronics are covered for 60 days from date of purchase. This warranty only applies to the original owner only – reselling voids the warranty. The warranty does not cover damage due to normal wear, abuse, alteration, poor maintenance, accidents, loss or negligence. Phantom Warrior® will only consider repair or replacement of the product. To receive warranty service, please contact us. Special warranties apply for members of the U.S. Military.

Please contact us directly and we will take care of you!