Yesterday, the European arms agency OCCAR initiated the procurement of 20,000 additional MIKRON night vision goggles on behalf of Germany, according to a report from Hensoldt. According to the announcement, the order value is expected to be in the mid three-digit million range. The recently founded joint venture Hensoldt Theon NightVision GmbH is responsible for fulfilling the order.
In the middle of last year, OCCAR concluded a corresponding framework agreement with an industrial consortium consisting of the German Hensoldt Optronics GmbH and the Greek Theon Sensors SA. Due to a lack of budget funds, only 9,500 could be purchased at the time. 4,550 night vision goggles were purchased for the Belgian armed forces and 5,000 sets of the same night vision goggles for the Bundeswehr.
Mit den nun im Juni gebilligten zusätzlichen Haushaltsmitteln, die Finanzierung erfolgt über das Sondervermögen Bundeswehr, konnte jetzt auch die verbliebene Option von 20.000 zusätzlichen Sätzen der Nachtsichtbrille ausgelöst werden. Hensoldt zufolge soll die Auslieferung der Brillen, welche in der Bundeswehr als „Bildverstärkerbrille, querschnittlich“ bezeichnet werden, im dritten Quartal 2024 abgeschlossen werden. Die Bundeswehr wird dann über 25.000 Sätze der Nachtsichtbrille verfügen.
The Theon MIKRON is a binocular night vision goggle with two 16 mm residual light intensifier tubes and an integrated infrared emitter. The glasses can be worn by the soldier either on the helmet or using a head-wearing system. The monoculars can be folded away separately. The MIKRON is powered by a single AA battery, but can also be operated with an external battery pack if longer operating time is necessary.
The glasses now purchased will be delivered in a slightly modified system configuration, as can be seen from the Hensoldt announcement. The need for adjustment was identified during the tactical operational test, which MIKRON successfully passed at the end of February 2022.
Waldemar Geiger
Related topics
OCCAR is purchasing new night vision goggles for the Bundeswehr and the Belgian armed forces Hensoldt and Theon found a joint venture DAMON – Theon supplies residual light amplifier attachments for the Bundeswehr Framework agreement OCCAR – Australia facilitates cooperation Italy: Construction of new submarines begins Mid-life update for the COBRA artillery detection radar Hensoldt wins contract for German airspace surveillance Artillery detection radar Cobra is being modernized Slovenia accepted into the OCCAR boxer program