The new deal includes 3,500 night vision goggles for Belgium and is expected to provide 16,041 night vision goggles and 8,423 Head Mounting Systems for Germany
The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation OCCAR has signed a second contract amendment with a consortium gathering HENSOLDT Optronics GmbH and THEON SENSORS SA for binocular night vision goggles and in-Service Support on behalf of Belgium and Germany on 26 January, in Bonn.
The new deal includes 3,500 night vision goggles for Belgium. It also provides 16,041 night vision goggles and 8,423 Head Mounting Systems for Germany, pending approval from the German parliament, which should be received at the end of the first quarter of 2024. Moreover, the contract includes an option for up to 25,000 additional night vision goggles each for the two countries to allow them to have the opportunity to buy different quantities without further negotiations.
Christian Hadjminas, President of THEON said: “The award of this newly signed second amendment underscores that the two customer nations rely on the superior quality of the night vision goggles and the professional and reliable execution of the deliveries. The progress of the program with such an ambitious timetable is astonishing and is the result of efforts of all partners.”
In July 2022, a first contract amendment was signed by OCCAR, executing an option to supply an additional 20,000 MIKRON Night Vision Goggles to the German Armed Forces while, at the same time, the delivery schedule was accelerated in light of the changed geopolitical situation. The total quantity of 29,550 NVGs resulting from the base contract and the first amendment will be concluded in the 3rd quarter of 2024. The base contract, signed by OCCAR in July 2021, featured 4,500 night vision goggles for Belgium and 5,000 for Germany. This contract has been fulfilled already.
In light of the contract signature of the base contract, HENSOLDT Optronics and THEON SENSORS founded a joint venture named HENSOLDT THEON NightVision GmbH in Wetzlar, Germany, in June 2022. Production increased swiftly following a transfer of technology from Athens to Wetzlar. The combined production capacity of THEON’s headquarters in Athens and HENSOLDT THEON NightVision in Wetzlar facilitates large-scale production, which is crucial for delivering such quantities quickly.
Belgium and Germany rely on MIKRON, a binocular night vision goggle with two 16 mm image intensifier tubes and an integrated infra-red illuminator. The device can be used hand-held or helmet-mounted. Both channels can be used separately or together. All channels can be flipped up or flipped sideways individually. MIKRON is powered by a single AA type battery, but it can also be used with an external power pack for even longer missions. Market leader THEON SENSORS S.A developed MIKRON. The increase in night vision capability for both programme participating States is critical in providing advanced equipment for their dismounted, airmobile and air assault soldiers as well as drivers of military vehicles. Recent conflicts underline the necessity of the ability to conduct missions at night.
