In a remarkable advancement for military technology, Thales has introduced its latest innovation: the PANORAMIC night vision goggles, unveiled at the 2025 edition of SOFINS.
This new product, tailored specifically for special operations forces and specialized units in France and around the world, promises to redefine how soldiers navigate and respond in low-light environments. Unlike traditional night vision systems, PANORAMIC offers a field of view that closely mirrors the natural capabilities of the human eye, providing a panoramic perspective that enhances situational awareness in even the darkest conditions. This development reflects Thales’s 30-year legacy of crafting night observation solutions to meet the demanding needs of land forces personnel.
The standout feature of PANORAMIC is its four-tube design, a leap forward from the conventional two-tube configuration found in most night vision goggles. This setup allows soldiers to take in their entire operational surroundings without needing to turn their heads, a critical advantage in high-pressure scenarios. By perceiving threats or movements in their peripheral vision more quickly, troops can react faster, potentially making the difference in life-or-death situations.
Whether it’s spotting an ambush or tracking a target in near-total darkness, this wider field of view equips soldiers with a level of awareness that traditional systems simply cannot match. Despite packing such advanced technology, PANORAMIC remains practical for field use. Weighing just 740 grams, it’s light enough to avoid burdening the wearer during long missions. Its compact size ensures it’s no wider than a standard soldier’s helmet, maintaining ease of movement and comfort. Thales has incorporated a patented architecture that strikes an impressive balance between performance, ergonomic design, and volume, setting a new standard on the international market.
The goggles include a conventional helmet flip-up feature, but they go further by allowing the outer tubes to be raised independently. When lifted, these tubes power off automatically, ensuring discretion—a vital trait for special operations where stealth can be as important as visibility. For energy efficiency, the system runs on batteries, with an optional external battery pack available for extended operations, keeping soldiers equipped no matter the mission duration. Compatibility is another strength of PANORAMIC. It integrates seamlessly with night sights like the XTRAIM weapon sight, allowing soldiers to pair it with their existing gear without complication. Beyond its current capabilities, the goggles are designed with the future in mind, built to accommodate emerging technologies and functionalities as they develop.
This forward-thinking approach ensures that PANORAMIC will remain relevant as military needs evolve. To keep the goggles ready for action, Thales has included an optimised maintenance plan, maximising operational availability so that forces can depend on their equipment when it matters most. The launch at SOFINS 2025 was a fitting stage for this unveiling, showcasing Thales’s ongoing commitment to innovation in night vision. Alexis Morel, Vice President of Optronics, Missile Electronics, and Unmanned Air Systems at Thales, spoke to the product’s purpose: “SOFINS is the ideal opportunity for us to present PANORAMIC, our new extra-wide field-of-view night observation device. Thales’s team’s technical expertise allowed the development of a ground-breaking night vision solution offering the robust design and outstanding performance needed to support the success of night-time missions and protect our soldiers at their most vulnerable moments.”
His words reflect the practical yet ambitious goal behind PANORAMIC: to give soldiers an edge in the toughest conditions. Proudly 100% made in France and free from International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) restrictions, PANORAMIC is positioned as a versatile option for both French forces and international partners. This freedom from ITAR constraints broadens its accessibility, making it a viable choice for specialized units globally who need cutting-edge tools without regulatory hurdles.
Thales itself is no stranger to pushing boundaries. As a global leader in advanced technologies for defense, aerospace, and cybersecurity, the company employs over 83,000 people across 68 countries and generated €20.6 billion in sales in 2024. With an annual investment of more than €4 billion in research and development, Thales focuses on critical areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, and cloud solutions. This commitment to innovation underpins products like PANORAMIC, which address pressing challenges such as sovereignty, security, sustainability, and inclusion.
For special operations forces, PANORAMIC is more than just a piece of equipment—it’s a tool that enhances their ability to operate with precision and confidence in the dark. By delivering a near-natural field of view, a lightweight and robust design, and compatibility with future advancements, Thales has created a night vision solution that meets the unique demands of elite units.
