In the past, particularly in reference to ex-military gear getting NV and thermal in had to have permission from the govt. NV for night flying helicopters used to have to do so. ITAR regulates both the import and the export out of the USA of product designed for military use.
All NV and thermal was military until more recently, and its no surprise that the commercial civilian gear that has been available recently is manufactured in Canada and Europe and not the USA who are still paranoid about this stuff.
This all changes with civilian product, as evidenced by Leupold. It will happen more often.
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