The ORION exercise allows testing of innovative support solutions directly in operational environments. These innovations in areas such as human support (food, equipment, field life), autonomous production (water, energy), and logistics aim to reduce logistical footprint, improve autonomy, and speed up support implementation.
The materials presented during the VIP DAY showcase innovation directly focused on operational efficiency with the objective of better support, faster and with more resilience. Among them:
– water production from air, for increased autonomy and reduced logistical footprint; – mobile energy solutions (solar, recharge), for autonomous and resilient support; – deployable food hub, for more efficient front-line feeding; – combat rations and innovative equipment, to enhance combat endurance; – field life materials and deployable equipment, lighter, more mobile, and providing support closer to units.
To turn innovation into concrete capabilities for the benefit of the armed forces, the Armies’ Procurement Agency collaborates closely with companies in the French and European Defense Industrial Support Base (BISD). These companies design, test, and adapt their solutions in contact with the forces. Operational co-construction was illustrated during the ORION exercise, where BISD actors deployed and tested their materials presented during VIP DAY. LOXAM, Drop’n Plug, and Bachmann presented their deployed equipment on the ORION exercise to support the forces alongside the Armies’ Procurement Agency.
:fill(black)/2026/04/22/69e8ecf1d795e663890638.jpg "United States: A drone films inside a tornado.")
