Galvion to supply 5,000 more Batlskin Caiman helmets to Canadian DND

Image courtesy Galvion

This latest order for an additional 5,000 helmets with two helmet covers each, is expected to deliver in early 2026.  

The original Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) programme contract was awarded in February 2023 for 2,100 helmets and 4,200 helmet covers. In July 2024, year two of a five-year framework contract, the DND exercised an option to order an additional 8,400 helmets and 16,800 helmet covers taking the total Canadian DICE order to 10,500 helmets and 21,000 covers, all successfully delivered. With this latest follow-on order, the DICE totals now total over 15,000 helmets and 30,000 covers, all ordered within three years of the five-year framework.

Developed over a number of years with extensive SOF community collaboration and feedback and now fielded in the hundreds of thousands across multiple NATO countries, Galvion’s Caiman helmet system delivers unmatched levels of weight and comfort and is expressly designed to incorporate electronics, communications headsets and other critical equipment needs, now and into the future. The helmet is equipped with Galvion’s premiere APEX lining system, an intuitively adjustable design that enables a customised fit for users.  

The helmet systems assessed for DICE were trialled by members of the Canadian Light Infantry Battalion at the end of 2022. Conducted under operational conditions, the trials included the integration of equipment such as eyewear, night vision goggles, gas masks, hearing protection, and cold-weather gear. The Caiman helmet received the highest rating by a significant margin and was selected after a phased bid process.  

Todd Stirtzinger, CEO at Galvion said: “We are exceedingly proud to receive another significant order from the Canadian DND for their DICE programme. Repeat orders like this demonstrate partner confidence and end-user satisfaction, both of which are core drivers for everything that we do at Galvion.

“We are seeing significant increases in demand across all of our head system platforms, with the Caiman helmet seeing far and wide adoption beyond the SOF community, as evidenced by this DICE contract but also the continued receipt of orders from NATO countries through our NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) framework contract. We have more good news on that side to be announced soon. This activity, alongside other notable successes, has triggered some major investment and expansion activity, which is best showcased by our recent European Production Hub opening ceremony, in Poland.”