France Expands Fleet with More Thales O-NYX Night Vision Goggles
The French military has renewed its confidence in Thales, prolonging a longstanding alliance in nocturnal vision technologies with a fresh order for 3,000 O-NYX goggles.
With over 80 years of expertise in elite optics and more than 110,000 night vision devices operational globally, Thales has leveraged insights from successive generations of active users to enhance soldier visibility in night-time operations.
Simplicity is key
Weighing in at under 350 g, O-NYX goggles feature a patented slim-profile design that reduces the span between the eyes and the equipment’s center of gravity, lessening neck strain and improving comfort during extended wear. Besides their ease of use, O-NYX goggles provide notable advancements in optical capabilities.
Boosted tactical efficiency
Throughout the years, Thales has collaborated with a variety of active user generations and exploited the latest breakthroughs in light intensification technology to offer ultra-lightweight, compact goggles accessible to every infantry soldier needing to operate after dark.
O-NYX goggles provide a 51° field of view, broadening the observed area by 70% in contrast to traditional goggles. The combination of crisp resolution and an expansive field of view enhances the soldier’s situational perception and awareness. Thanks to its low energy consumption, the new goggles can function for up to 40 hours on a single charge and may utilize standard AA batteries when necessary.
Compact technology, grand aspirations
The O-NYX initiative forms part of efforts to upgrade minor equipment—such as handguns, helmets, and bulletproof vests—under the current French defense budget plan.
Central to Thales’s dominance in the optronics sector is the Group’s comprehensive technology know-how, a holistic approach to product innovation, and proactive collaboration with a network of pioneering industry collaborators in France.
For the O-NYX French project, Thales’s ally Photonis enhanced the functionality of its image intensification tubes and collaborated with the DGA and the French Army to validate its latest 4G tube technology, which boosts optical performance by 50-60% over current alternatives.
The recent order for O-NYX night vision goggles further attests to Thales’s capability to merge all these proficiencies with the experiences and insights of operational users, crafting a future we can all rely on.
“The French Army is recognized as a demanding user with extensive experience in active theaters. The rollout of the initial O-NYX goggles with units in the field brings immense pride to our teams. Importantly, this new device was co-developed with operational users at every stage, demonstrating Thales’s dedication to user-focused innovation.” Benoit Plantier, VP of Optronics and Missile Electronics at Thales.
