The Bundeswehr invests a billion in night vision: an important signal also for the Folgore

The Bundeswehr has decided to take a decisive step towards modernizing its night-time operational capabilities. According to the agenda of the upcoming Budget Committee meeting, the German Armed Forces intend to invest about one billion euros for the purchase of 100,000 new binocular night vision devices “Theon Mikron”, produced by the industrial consortium Theon Sensors – Hensoldt Optronics through the European agency OCCAR.

This is an unprecedented number in Europe, signaling Berlin's intention to definitively fill the gaps in the individual equipment of its soldiers and to decisively focus on operational autonomy even in dark conditions.

A model to follow also for the Folgore

This choice represents an opportunity for reflection also for Italy, and in particular for the Paratroopers Brigade “Folgore”, whose employment doctrine naturally includes the ability to move, infiltrate, and fight at night, exploiting the element of surprise and the protection offered by darkness.

For an airborne unit like the Folgore, accustomed to operating in high mobility contexts and often in reduced visibility conditions, individual night vision equipment is not just a technical support: it is a force multiplier.
The widespread adoption of next-generation, lightweight, reliable, and integrable vision devices with modern communication and targeting systems would allow Italian paratroopers to maintain full operational capability even at night, ensuring safety, precision, and tactical coordination.

The Theon Mikron technology

The model chosen by the Bundeswehr, the Theon Mikron, is a binocular device with two 16 mm residual light intensifier tubes produced by Exosense (formerly Photonis Defense). It features an integrated infrared illuminator and can be worn both on the helmet and via a cranial support system.
Powered by a single AA battery, it can extend operational duration through an external battery pack: features that make it particularly suitable for the needs of light and mobile units, such as paratroopers.

Investing in the night: an operational necessity

The German investment demonstrates how modern European armed forces are recognizing the strategic value of night-time superiority.
For Italy, and for the Folgore in particular, this can be an opportunity to strengthen the projection and combat capability in low visibility conditions, enhancing a distinctive trait of the paratrooper tradition: knowing how to strike where and when the enemy least expects it.