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How did thermal sights allow tanks to fight at night?

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Kuwait: U.S. 1st Armored Division M1A1 Abrams tanks — tank M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks of the U.S. 1st Armored Division moving across the desert in northern Kuwait during the Persian Gulf War, February 1991.

Thermal imaging sights revolutionized tank warfare by allowing crews to operate effectively in total darkness. Unlike earlier systems that required external light sources or emitted detectable energy, thermal sights are considered passive because they detect the heat signatures naturally emitted by objects and vehicles.1

By sensing these temperature differences, the system creates a visual representation of the environment, enabling gunners to identify and engage targets regardless of ambient light conditions. This technology replaced or supplemented earlier methods such as:1

Active Infrared: Systems that emitted infrared energy to illuminate targets, which could be detected by the enemy.1
Image Intensifiers: Devices that amplified existing low-level light, such as moonlight or starlight, to provide visibility.21

The integration of thermal imaging, often paired with laser range finders and ballistic computers, significantly increased the lethality and survivability of modern tanks by allowing them to maintain combat effectiveness around the clock without revealing their position.1