The AN/PVS-17 is a lightweight compact high performance device that will use the OMNI IV MX 10160 image intensifier tube. The system weighs less than two pounds, comes with a MIL-STD-1913 rail grabber interface, and is immersible to 66 feet. The AN/PVS-17 consists of two configurations, the AN/PVS-17B and AN/PVS-17C. The 17B incorporates a 2.25x magnification and the 17C incorporates a 4.5x magnification.

The AN/PVS-17 can be mounted to any weapon that uses the standard MIL-STD-1913 rail and will replace the AN/PVS-4 in select units. The 17B is intended to be mounted on the M16 and the 17C is intended to be mounted on the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) and M240G Medium Machine Gun via the carrying handle utilizing a V-Mount interface.