DSEI 2025: Exosens 5G Image Intensifier Tube a French Breakthrough in Night Vision.

It was at the Brive-la-Gaillarde factory, still operating under the Photonis name but part of the Exosens group, that Jérôme Cerisier, CEO of the company, welcomed us to unveil the latest generation of its 5G intensifier tube. Presented to the public at the DSEI exhibition in London, held from September 9 to 12, this launch marks a major step for the global manufacturer of optoelectronic components and systems. Already supplying almost all European armies, Exosens intends to go further: with this 5G version, the company moves to a new level in night detection and in equipping armed forces with advanced solutions.
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Already ordered by several special forces before its release, the 5G is presented as the most advanced tube on the market, and likely the future standard for modern armed forces (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Over the past three years, Exosens has experienced a real renewal. With nearly 400 million euros in revenue, doubled production, and a workforce also doubled in less than a decade, the company has entered a new stage. Its Brive site, both historic and strategic, has expanded, while Exosens has also extended its expertise internationally with branches in the United States, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, Spain and Belgium. The company has developed expertise in a demanding field where only two American companies stand as direct competitors, a field that requires mastery of ultravacuum and light management.

Exosens’ strength also lies in its production capacity: nearly 120,000 units per year, around 2,500 tubes per week, a pace that allows it to meet the growing demand of armed forces. At a time when Europe is accelerating rearmament, the complete control of the industrial chain, from tools to machines assembled on site, ensures the precision required for the manufacture of these advanced systems. A key point is that the 5G tubes, like their predecessors, are fully ITAR-free, without American components, guaranteeing the sovereignty of European clients. Today, Exosens claims 70% of the global market outside the United States.

The 5G fits into a dynamic of rapid evolution. The previous generation, the 4G+, dated only from 2019. Since then, Exosens teams have intensified their R&D efforts to deliver a solution better adapted to user expectations. The company does not hesitate to involve armed forces in the development process: tubes are tested by operators before their release. This approach strengthens proximity with users and ensures that products are suited to operational realities.

The goal is clear: provide greater visual comfort, reduce cognitive load, and improve soldier reactivity. With a minimum FOM of 2,500, the 5G goes well beyond the 4G (1800) and the 4G+ (2300). It offers up to 35% additional detection range, while limiting noise and flicker. The result is a sharper image, enhanced perception of textures and contrasts, and a notable reduction in fatigue. The 5G is designed to identify faster, respond more quickly and provide a decisive advantage, both in defense and in attack.

With a minimum FOM of 2,500, the 5G goes well beyond the 4G (1800) and the 4G+ (2300). It offers up to 35% additional detection range, while limiting noise and flicker (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The flexibility of the 5G is another advantage. It can be used with both monocular and binocular mounts, and is also compatible with previous generations, making integration easier for already equipped armies. Its applications are multiple: standard use in night vision goggles, piloting helicopters at night, or integration into wide field-of-view systems (>50°), where it increases the exploitable image area by more than 70%. With this level of performance, Exosens confirms its ambition.

Already ordered by several special forces before its release, the 5G is presented as the most advanced tube on the market, and likely the future standard for modern armed forces. Its new performance is valued for its precision, but also for the additional safety it provides to soldiers. For a soldier, seeing better and farther in the dark is not only a tactical advantage: it is a matter of survival.

While Europe is already its main market, Exosens is now looking towards the United States. The French company is currently the only non-American actor able to compete with local technologies. Conquering this market, equipping the entire US Army, would be the ultimate step in establishing the Exosens success story. Already recognized as a strategic supplier to NATO, the group now seeks to reach this last milestone and secure its position as the global leader in night vision.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay is a graduate of a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience in the study of conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces, with a strong focus on multilateral cooperation and geopolitics.