Thales, at its Saint-Héand site, self-funded the Bi-NYX development project. Credit: viewimage/Shutterstock.

The French Armed Forces have received an initial 300 Thales Bi-NYX night vision goggles as part of an order for 2,000 sets placed in December 2023.  

These goggles are part of the Bi-NYX contract, which was initially ordered by French defence procurement agency (DGA) in 2020. 

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The remaining 1,700 units are expected to be shipped by the end of the current year.  

The Bi-NYX goggles offer binocular vision required for specialist units and vehicle operators navigating at night or in challenging environments. 

The goggles are an addition to the 12,960 O-NYX binocular night vision goggles already deployed across French Army regiments.  

The Bi-NYX model is an advancement of the Nellie solution, introduced in June 2020, featuring optical and light-intensification technologies for superior stereoscopic vision and a wide field of view in a lightweight design. 

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Thales, at its Saint-Héand site, self-funded the Bi-NYX development project.  

The facility has a capacity to produce more than 250 units per month, ensuring timely fulfilment of the Armed Forces’ requirements. 

Thales Optronics and Missile Electronics and Unmanned Air Systems vice-president Benoit Plantier said: “Today we are delighted to be making the first official delivery of our Bi-NYX night vision goggles ordered for the French Army.  

“Once again, we thank the French Army and the French defence procurement agency for their confidence in the night vision systems designed and manufactured by Thales with the support of our partners. We are firmly convinced of the operational benefits of Bi-NYX goggles in night combat situations.”  

In September 2024, France’s Armed Forces Minister Sébastian Lecornu announced the production of eight SAMP/T NG surface to air missile systems by Eurosam, a collaboration between MBDA and Thales.  

These systems are for the French Air and Space Forces.