Integrated Multi-Threat Headborne System Prototype To Be Funded And Developed For US Army

Under a US Army-funded initiative, Team Wendy Ceradyne and Theon International partner to develop an Integrated Multi-Threat Headborne System (IMHS) prototype set to enhance soldier protection and situational awareness.

Salem, New Hampshire – January 12th, 2026 – Team Wendy Ceradyne, a leading US-based developer and manufacturer of advanced combat helmets for the Department of Defense, and Theon International, a global company specializing in electro-optical systems including night vision, thermal imaging, and augmented reality (AR) technologies, have announced a strategic partnership under a US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Soldier Center (SC)-funded initiative. Together, the companies are developing a next generation Integrated Multi-Threat Headborne System (IMHS) designed to enhance Soldier protection, situational awareness, and lethality across multi-domain operations.

“With Army support and strong industry partnerships, we're advancing head protection into a fully integrated helmet system — combining ballistic protection with enhanced situational awareness,” said Erik Cobham, President of Team Wendy Ceradyne. “This shift fundamentally changes how Soldiers perceive, decide, and respond on the battlefield.”

Conducted under a shared-cost model between the US government and industry partners, the program integrates Team Wendy Ceradyne’s proven ballistic protection technologies with Theon’s advanced electronic systems. The result will be a modular head borne architecture capable of delivering tailored, mission critical technologies – including seamless communications integration – adaptable to future operational requirements.

“We are honored to partner with the exceptional Team Wendy Ceradyne on this critical US Army initiative,” said Dr. Michalis Kolotos, Director of US Operations for THEON. “This collaboration is a prime opportunity to integrate our advanced THEON NEXT opto-electronic solutions, which are a direct result of our technological knowhow and our strategic investments in the US. We are focused on delivering head borne power and data solutions that could enable next-generation capabilities, such as advanced day-and-night Head-Up Displays (HUDs) and Augmented Reality (AR), all seamlessly connected to the soldier's Power and Battle Management System. This integration is key to enhancing situational awareness and decision-making for the US warfighter.”

The DEVCOM SC-sponsored team also includes Invisio, providing lightweight tactical communications and hearing protection, and Revision, contributing ballistic and laser protective eyewear. The IMHS prototype developed in this project will be evaluated by the DEVCOM Soldier Center in Fourth Quarter, FY26, during a Soldier Touchpoint to assess performance and gather user feedback for future design phases.