The Theon–Hensoldt consortium has secured a contract valued at approximately €1 billion ($1.17 billion) to supply advanced night vision goggles (NVGs) to the armed forces of Germany and Belgium, marking the largest single NVG procurement in the history of a European NATO member. The contract was awarded by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR), underscoring Europe’s accelerating investment in soldier-level battlefield technologies.
Under the agreement, the consortium will deliver around 100,000 additional Mikron NVGs to Germany and approximately 4,000 units to Belgium, significantly expanding the night-fighting capability of both armed forces.
Expansion of an Ongoing Multinational Program
The latest award builds on earlier OCCAR contracts covering 66,000 NVGs for Germany and 8,000 for Belgium, the majority of which have already been delivered. With the new order included, total deliveries under the broader multinational program are expected to exceed 178,000 night vision systems by the end of 2030.
Defense officials and analysts view the scale of the program as a direct response to operational lessons from recent conflicts, where dominance in low-light and night conditions has proven critical for surveillance, maneuver, and force protection.
Industry Outlook and Strategic Positioning
Theon described the contract as a major validation of its technology leadership and long-term strategy in the man-portable defense segment. Philippe Mennicken, Deputy CEO and Business Development Director at Theon, emphasized that night vision devices are no longer optional but essential battlefield equipment. He added that demand is rising not only across Europe but increasingly in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
According to the company, Theon aims to outpace overall market growth by consolidating its position in night vision systems while expanding into adjacent soldier technologies, thereby increasing its addressable market and long-term relevance to modern armed forces.
Exosens to Supply Image Intensifier Tubes
A key industrial partner in the program is French defense technology firm Exosens, which will supply the image intensifier tubes used in the Mikron systems. For the German order, Exosens will deliver more than 200,000 16 mm image intensifier tubes, representing a contract value of around €500 million ($587 million). The Belgian requirement includes the supply of approximately 8,000 tubes.
Frédéric Guilhem, Chief Commercial Officer for Night Vision at Exosens, said the contract represents a strong endorsement of the company’s night-vision technology and manufacturing quality. He noted that the compact and lightweight 16 mm tubes deliver high performance while enhancing soldier safety and situational awareness during night operations.
Mikron-D: Operationally Focused Design
The Mikron-D night vision goggles feature a dual-tube binocular configuration, offering superior depth perception compared with single-tube systems. This capability improves distance judgment and relative motion awareness, which are critical for tasks such as navigation, coordinated movement, and vehicle driving in low-visibility environments.
Designed with special operations forces in mind, each monocular can be independently flipped away, allowing rapid reconfiguration in the field. When stowed, the system aligns closely with the helmet profile, reducing silhouette, neck strain, and the risk of damage during movement.
The system is powered by a single AA battery, simplifying logistics, and can also be connected to a rear-mounted remote battery pack on the helmet to extend operational endurance during longer missions.
Strengthening European Night-Fighting Capability
The scale of the OCCAR contract highlights a broader trend among European NATO members toward standardized, high-volume procurement of advanced soldier equipment. As armed forces adapt to increasingly contested and technology-driven battlefields, night-fighting superiority has emerged as a decisive factor.
With deliveries scheduled through 2030, the Theon–Hensoldt-led program, supported by Exosens technology, is set to play a central role in strengthening the night-time operational effectiveness of German and Belgian forces for years to come.
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