The Theon–Hensoldt consortium has secured a contract worth approximately €1 billion ($1.17 billion) to supply additional Mikron night vision goggles to the armed forces of Germany and Belgium. Awarded by the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR), the agreement covers the delivery of around 100,000 systems for Germany and 4,000 units for Belgium, making it the largest single night vision procurement ever undertaken by a European NATO member.
This latest order builds on earlier OCCAR contracts that included 66,000 night vision devices for Germany and 8,000 for Belgium, most of which have already been delivered. Under the expanded program, total deliveries are expected to exceed 178,000 night vision goggles by the end of 2030, significantly strengthening the night-fighting and operational capabilities of both nations’ armed forces.
The Mikron goggles will be equipped with 16 mm image intensifier tubes supplied by French manufacturer Exosens. In support of the German portion of the contract, Exosens will deliver more than 200,000 tubes under a separate agreement valued at roughly €500 million, while approximately 8,000 tubes will be provided for Belgium’s order.
Featuring a dual-tube binocular design, the Mikron NVGs offer improved depth perception, motion awareness, and distance judgment compared with single-tube systems. Designed with special operations forces in mind, each monocular can be independently flipped away for rapid reconfiguration. The system runs on a single AA battery and can also be powered by a rear-mounted helmet battery pack, reducing neck strain, lowering the visual profile, and extending operational endurance.
