Photonis Defense – housing manufacturer profile

Part of the housing manufacturers section of the night vision database. Compare all models in the housings database.

Company profile

Photonis Defense is the US subsidiary of Exosens (formerly Photonis), based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; the company traces its heritage to 1942. Its first branded systems were the PD-PRO line, announced in December 2020. In 2026 it received a US Army order for 1,600 BiNOD binocular systems, which it makes and tests in the US. The parent company also makes image intensifier tubes; see tube manufacturers.

Housings

PD-PRO-Q

• Type: panoramic (4-tube)
• Introduced: 2020 (announced 1 Dec 2020)
• Tube format: 18 mm and 16 mm 4G filmless (hybrid)
• Weight: Up to 30% lighter than 18 mm versions (maker claim)
• Status: Announced December 2020
• Data: Maker + secondary

PD-PRO-16B

• Type: binocular
• Introduced: 2020 (announced 1 Dec 2020)
• Tube format: 16 mm 4G filmless
• Weight: Up to 30% lighter than 18 mm versions (maker claim)
• Status: Announced December 2020
• Data: Maker + secondary

PD-PRO-16M

• Type: monocular
• Introduced: 2020 (announced 1 Dec 2020)
• Tube format: 16 mm 4G filmless
• Weight: 38% lighter than a PVS-14 (maker claim)
• Status: Announced December 2020
• Data: Maker + secondary

BiNOD (US Army)

• Type: binocular
• Introduced: 2026 (LRIP order Aug 2026)
• Tube format: Exosens image intensifiers
• Status: Low-rate initial production: 1,600 systems, deliveries 2026–2027
• Data: Maker

Notes

The US Army AN/PVS-33 BiNOD designation is also used by Twenty-Six Defense; the relationship between the two programmes is not confirmed. Photonis Defense does not disclose who makes the PD-PRO housings.

Sources

• Photonis Defense Releases Ultralight 4G Night Vision Goggles (officer.com)
• Photonis Announces New PD-PRO Night Vision, Including Quads (thefirearmblog.com)
• Exosens US BiNOD order (exosens.com)

Last checked: 9 November 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us in the forum.