BUNDESWEHR: Special assets provide night vision

The Bundeswehr will receive an additional 20,000 binocular night vision goggles of the type MIKRON. This is made possible by funding from the Bundeswehr's special assets. Represented by the international armament organization OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation), the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) together with the Belgian partner and the companies Hensoldt Optronics GmbH and Theon Sensors SA recently signed a corresponding amendment contract. The total of 25,000 night vision goggles will be delivered to the Bundeswehr from mid-2022 to the end of 2024.

The responsible project leader at BAAINBw, Dimitri Pfening, is pleased with the contract conclusion: "The contract improves night vision capability and at the same time the material operational readiness of the troops. Through the smooth cooperation of all relevant departments at BAAINBw with the Federal Ministry of Defense, the representatives of the armed forces and organizational areas, we were able to ensure a seamless and timely support in the preparation of the contract documents here in Koblenz."

Already last year, the underlying contract between OCCAR and the consortium was signed. Initially, 5,000 night vision goggles were ordered for the NATO Very High Joint Readiness Task Force (VJTF) 2023. The first 500 night vision goggles have already arrived at the Pfungstadt depot and are now being taken over by the Bundeswehr. Subsequently, the night vision goggles will be available as planned for the VJTF 2023.

Through the establishment of the special assets for the Bundeswehr, a contractual option for an additional 20,000 night vision goggles has now been triggered. The Bundeswehr will then have a total of 25,000 night vision goggles. All branches of the armed forces, the armed forces base, the medical service of the Bundeswehr, and the cyber and information domain forces will be equipped with the new goggles, with the German Army accounting for the largest share at almost 50%.

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