A system and method. The system may include a head-up display (HUD). The HUD may include a positionable combiner optical element (COE) (106) and a combiner alignment detector (CAD) configured to conform images displayed on the positionable COE with a view through the positionable COE. The CAD may include a mirror (112) that moves with the positionable COE, an infrared (IR) emitter (120) configured to emit IR pulses onto the mirror with a duty cycle of less than 1% such that an average time-based radiance of the IR pulses is compatible with a night vision imaging system (NVIS) (1102), and an IR detector (118) configured to receive the IR pulses reflected off of the mirror. |