Exosens set to make US impact with night vision systems

Photonis Defense, a subsidiary of the French technology company Exosens with particular expertise in night-vision, has received its first delivery order from the US Army for systems procured under the Binocular Night Observation Device (BiNOD) program.

The development, which follows a previous announcement that the company could ultimately provide 1600 complete systems through 2033, is said to represent a significant milestone in Exosens’ planned US expansion.

“First product deliveries are expected by the end of 2026, with the bulk of deliveries scheduled throughout 2027,” announced the company. Financial terms were not disclosed, although back in March Exosens announced that, if executed, the full contract could have a maximum value of just over $350 million.

“The [delivery] order lays the foundation for regular production of BiNOD systems at Photonis Defense’s US factory,” it said, “This represents an important step in the BiNOD program, initiating the Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phase after the key testing and qualification phase.”

Earlier this year Exosens secured €140 million in funding from the European Investment Bank (EIB) intended to support its efforts to produce dual-use photonics technologies for defense and surveillance applications.

The company has expertise across the electromagnetic spectrum, and is a key supplier of image intensifier tubes, with Photonis Defense bringing decades of work on night vision and binoculars for military use.

Operational advantage

Combining Photonis Defense’s Massachusetts location and test capabilities with Exosens’ long-standing capabilities in high-performance image intensifier tubes, the US Army will receive lightweight, mission-ready, and cost-effective night vision systems designed to provide soldiers with a decisive operational advantage in demanding environments.

Exosens CEO Jérôme Cerisier commented: “This new phase of the BiNOD program marks a key milestone in Exosens’ expansion in the US and confirms the relevance of our in-country industrial strategy.

“By combining our technology leadership in night vision with scalable US industrial capabilities, we reaffirm our commitment to serving as a trusted partner to the US Army. This milestone further strengthens our long-term growth prospects in the US defense market.” 

Shanna Owens, who was appointed as the CEO of Photonis Defense earlier this year, added: “As part of Exosens, we combine decades of innovation with a dedicated US team committed to meeting the Army’s highest standards for performance, quality and on-time delivery.

“Together, we are proud to support the modernization of soldier night vision capabilities and help ensure mission success.”

Photonis program manager Richard Harrison, who has worked closely with the US Army throughout BiNOD’s development and testing, highlighted the significance of the development, saying in a press release:

“Having worked closely with the team and the Army to get BiNOD to this point, seeing the first LRIP award come through is personally very rewarding.

“This isn’t just another production award - it represents a shared commitment to giving our soldiers a better night-vision capability. I’m incredibly proud of the team and excited to see BiNOD transition from something we built and tested into equipment that will make a difference for soldiers in the field.”