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28 Oct 2025
French producer of image intensifier tubes and other defense-related optics extends capacity ramp amid higher NATO spending.
Exosens, the Paris-listed manufacturer of photonics and imaging equipment - including the Telops and Xenics brands - says it is planning to invest a further €17 million expanding its production capacity in Europe.
That latest commitment is in addition to a €20 million investment already planned for the firm’s US and European operations, and relates largely to image intensifier tubes made by subsidiary Photonis that are now in high demand from the defense sector.
“As global demand continues to strengthen and in light of NATO members’ planned defense budget increases toward the 3.5 per cent of GDP target, Exosens has decided to further expand capacity by 15 per cent with an additional €17 million investment in Europe,” the company announced alongside its latest quarterly financial update.
“This plan is designed to further strengthen Exosens’ global footprint, enabling it to meet the growing needs for night vision systems among defense end users and capture additional market opportunities, particularly in the US.”
Luminous gain
Overall, those investments are set to deliver a combined 40 per cent increase in the group's global capacity by 2027, covering the firm’s existing product lines and its latest “5G” image intensifier tubes, which were launched last month.
Exosens claims that the 5G products set a new performance standard in terms of image quality, observation range, and luminous gain, including up to a 35 per cent increase in detection range versus the current standard.
“Exosens will be the only player able to deliver this level of technology to NATO members, cementing its role as NATO’s strategic night vision supplier,” it said, adding that it had received orders for more than 5000 5G tubes prior to the product's official launch.
The tubes are said to integrate seamlessly into all types of night vision systems used by military forces, for example night vision goggles and clip-on weapon sights.
Thanks largely to the strong demand from defense markets, Exosens says that it is fully on track to meeting its 2025 revenue goals. For the first nine months of the year it has posted sales of €328 million, up 23 per cent year-on-year.
CEO Jérôme Cerisier said in response to those figures: “Defense momentum remains strong and continues to gain traction, both in amplification and in detection and imaging, and Exosens is seizing significant growth opportunities driven by the rise of emerging applications such as drone warfare and advanced night vision technologies.”
Photonics focus with Phasics and NVLS deals
Exosens also appears to be sharpening its focus on photonics technologies, following up its recent acquisitions of the wavefront sensing specialist Phasics and Night Vision Laser Spain (NVLS) with the planned divestment of its microwave amplification business.
Last month Exosens reported that NVLS had secured a major contract with the Spanish army for the supply of 17,000 advanced night vision monoculars fitted with image intensifier tubes, to be delivered between 2025 and 2028.
“This landmark contract highlights NVLS’ contribution to European sovereignty by strengthening its industrial capacity as a leading Spanish supplier of night vision equipment for dismounted soldiers,” announced the firm at the time.
Founded in 2003, Phasics currently employs 40 people and made sales of €8.5 million in 2024. It is said to offer innovative optics metrology and imaging solutions in wavefront sensing, based on the patented “QuadriWave Lateral Shearing Interferometry (QWLSI)” method.
“By measuring the defects in optical components and analysing laser beams, Phasics addresses different types of applications such as physical research, industrial control, laser measurements, microscopy, space and defense, critical to the development of advanced instruments and systems,” stated Exosens.
Phasics CEO Marie-Begona Lebrun added: “Exosens’ support should provide us capabilities to scale up and to extend our geographical global reach, while reinforcing our global offer to our customers. It represents a very exciting opportunity for the company.”
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