Galvion, a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative head systems, power and data management solutions, and integrated soldier systems, will showcase a new Cortex™ EVO HALO integration concept for the UK’s in-service VIRTUS helmet at Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2026 (Booth C3-D22).
The integration concept illustrates how Cortex EVO HALO could provide a pathway to extend and evolve the UK’s existing VIRTUS helmet fleet, introducing advanced power, data and headborne capabilities while building on the proven protective platform already in service.
The VIRTUS helmet is Galvion’s Batlskin® Cobra Plus head system, with more than 270,000 delivered to the UK Ministry of Defence since 2015. The Cortex EVO HALO concept on display at DVD is integrated onto the high-cut VIRTUS variant currently in service, but the same upgrade approach can be applied to the full-cut helmets that make up the wider fielded fleet.
Cortex EVO is Galvion’s integrated headborne architecture, bringing protection, power, data and compute together within a unified system. Its HALO configuration, introduced at Eurosatory 2026, is externally mounted and designed to extend EVO capabilities to both new and fielded helmet platforms.
Alongside the deeply integrated Embedded configuration, HALO provides an alternative implementation of the same core Cortex EVO architecture, allowing users to select an approach aligned with their operational requirements, procurement strategies and lifecycle objectives.
The EVO architecture provides a common power and data backbone capable of supporting visual augmentation, sensing and awareness technologies, digital communications and other headborne capabilities. Galvion’s AlertCentr™ software enables mission-relevant information to be managed at the headborne level, including configurable visual and audio cueing designed to allow operators to access and act on critical information without diverting attention to secondary devices. Its open architecture also enables Galvion-developed and third-party technologies to operate within a common system environment.
“Cortex EVO represents an important part of where we believe soldier systems are heading – moving beyond passive protection toward intelligent, integrated systems that enhance capability at the headborne level,” said Peter Rafferty, President of Galvion UK. “VIRTUS has provided the UK with a proven protective head system for more than a decade, and what we’re showing at DVD is how that existing platform can continue to evolve. Cortex EVO HALO creates a potential pathway to introduce advanced headborne capabilities while building on the equipment, experience and investment already in place. For us, delivering whole-life value means continuing to support and evolve fielded equipment as operational requirements change.”
The VIRTUS Cortex EVO HALO integration concept will be on display at Galvion’s booth C3-D22 throughout DVD 2026.