Thales is presenting its new Panoramic night vision goggles for the first time at the Special Operations Forces Innovation Network Seminar (SOFINS). They are equipped with four light amplification tubes and therefore offer a particularly wide field of vision.
The development, which took just over two years, was financed entirely by the French Agency for Defense Innovation (AID). The Panoramic goggles are currently being tested by the French army’s technical department (STAT) and special forces.
“SOFINS is the ideal opportunity for us to unveil Panoramic, our new wide field-of-view night vision device,” said Alexis Morel, Vice President of Optronics, Missile Electronics and Unmanned Aerial Systems at Thales. “The technical expertise of the Thales team has enabled the development of a breakthrough night vision solution that offers the robust design and outstanding performance required to succeed in night operations and protect our soldiers in their most vulnerable moments.”
The new night vision goggles offer a field of view that approaches the capabilities of the human eye to improve situational awareness in low light conditions. With four tubes instead of two, soldiers can quickly perceive their entire operational environment without moving their heads, allowing them to react more quickly to potential threats in their peripheral vision.
Panoramic weighs only 740 grams and is no wider than the soldier’s helmet. In addition to the conventional function for folding up the goggles, each of the outer tubes can be folded up independently, with automatic shut-off. The goggles, which are designed for energy efficiency, are also battery-operated. However, an external battery pack is also available for longer operating times.
The Panoramic is fully compatible with night sights such as the XTRAIM weapon sight. It is a compact, robust unit designed for future technologies and features and includes a maintenance plan to maximize operational availability. The night vision device has been specially developed for special forces and special units in France and internationally and is 100% made in France.
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