On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Galvion, a global leader in the design and manufacture of innovative ballistic head protection systems, power and data management solutions, and integrated soldier systems, announced that it has received a new order from Canada’s Department of National Defence for its flagship Batlskin Caiman ballistic helmet system. The latest order covers an additional 29,000 helmets, with two helmet covers for each, placed under a long-term framework agreement with the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPA).
Photo: Galvion
The initial contract under the Canadian Dismounted Infantry Capability Enhancement (DICE) program was awarded in February 2023 and covered the delivery of 2,100 helmets and 4,200 helmet covers. In July 2024, during the second year of the five-year framework contract, Canada’s Department of National Defence exercised an option for an additional 8,400 helmets and 16,800 covers, followed in July 2025 by an order for a further 5,000 helmets and 10,000 covers. With the latest order, total purchases under the DICE program now stand at more than 44,000 helmets and 100,000 covers.
Developed over many years in close cooperation with, and with feedback from, the special operations community, and now fielded in hundreds of thousands of units across multiple NATO countries, Galvion’s Caiman helmet delivers an unmatched combination of low weight and comfort. It was designed specifically to support the integration of electronics, communications headsets, and other critical equipment needs, both now and in the future. The helmet features Galvion’s best-in-class APEX padding system, enabling intuitive user fit adjustment.
The Batlskin Caiman is available in five sizes – S, M, L, XL, and XXL – for head circumferences of 527–565 mm, 559–603 mm, 578–610 mm, 597–629 mm, and 616–654 mm, respectively. The weights of complete helmets with UHMWPE shells are 1,050 g, 1,080 g, 1,130 g, 1,230 g, and 1,310 g, respectively. The helmet’s interior can be adjusted to ensure a proper fit for every user. The Batlskin Caiman provides Level IIIA ballistic protection per the U.S. NIJ 0101.06 standard against a standard 1.1 g FSP fragment. The V50 ballistic resistance for the Batlskin Caiman is 671 m/s with a 6 mm shell thickness. The helmet is offered as standard in three color variants: TAN 499, black, and Ranger Green. The manufacturer provides a seven-year warranty for this design.
Helmets for the DICE program were tested by members of the Canadian Light Infantry Battalion in late 2022. The operational testing included 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 clear margin and was selected following a multi-stage tender process.
Ms Danielli, General and Cooperative Services Programme Manager, emphasized:
“NSPA is proud to support the Canadian Armed Forces in delivering critical protective equipment to their troops. This procurement demonstrates the strength of our COMMIT partnership in providing nations with reliable and cost-effective solutions. Through the web-based platform of the NATO Logistics Stock Exchange (NLSE), NSPA accelerates procurement by consolidating national requirements and leveraging long-term framework contracts, enabling nations to translate urgent operational needs into timely, mission-relevant capabilities.”
Jonathan Blanshay, Executive Chairman at Galvion said:
“We are exceedingly proud to receive yet another significant order from the Canadian DND taking the total to over 44,000 helmets in a four-year period, this time through the NSPA framework contract. Repeat orders like this demonstrate partner confidence and end-user satisfaction, both of which are core drivers for everything that we do at Galvion.”
He added: “We continue to see 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 the continued receipt of orders from NATO countries through our NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) framework contract. For the Canadian DND to have adopted the NSPA model makes it very clear that the NSPA procurement route delivers advantages to NATO members on both sides of the Atlantic. Caiman, through NSPA, has now become the global head system of choice.”
See also:
- Galvion Unveils the Ultralight Hellbender UL Helmet
- Galvion to Supply NATO with Over 250,000 Caiman Ballistic Helmets
- Galvion introduces Batlskin Caiman Ultra-Light Helmet at AUSA 2025
- Galvion to produce ballistic helmets for Chile worth 9.15 million USD
- Galvion celebrates significant head system sales with over 1.25 million helmets ordered by NATO and allied customers
- Galvion wins U.S. Marine Corps Integrated Helmet System contract
- Galvion’s Caiman Helmets from Gdańsk