Hensoldt and Theon to deliver 20,000 night-vision goggles to Germany

A Hensoldt and Theon consortium has received a follow-on contract for 20,000 Mikron night-vision goggles from the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), Hensoldt announced on 5 July.

The contract amendment, signed by OCCAR on behalf of Belgium and Germany, activates an existing option for the supply of an additional 20,000 Mikron Binocular Night-Vision Googles (BNVGs) to the German armed forces (Bundeswehr), Hensoldt detailed.

The original contract, signed on 5 July 2021, involved the delivery of 4550 16 mm BNVGs to the Belgium Armed Forces and 5000 to the Bundeswehr, with deliveries starting in 2021. Following this contract amendment, the Hensoldt and Theon consortium will deliver 29,550 goggles to the German and Belgian armed forces.

A Hensoldt spokesperson told Janes that the amended contract also involves accelerating the delivery of the goggles originally ordered in July 2021.

The company said that the “mid-three-digit million” euro contract amendment includes various enhancements to the Mikron and changes to the system configuration, as a result of the completion of the Operational Testing and Acceptance phase (OT&A) in February 2022. The Hensoldt spokesperson was unable to elaborate further on this.

According to the company, the Mikron BNVG with two 16 mm residual light amplifier tubes and integrated infrared illuminators has been selected as part of the contract. The company states that the goggles can be worn by the soldier either on the helmet or on a headgear system and can be powered by a single AA battery or operated with an external battery pack.

The OT&A phase tested the Mikron's suitability in different challenging environments and tactical scenarios. This included the Bundeswehr Lower Saxony Parachute Regiment 31 in Seedorf, North Germany, testing the goggles while parachuting in day and night conditions.