Galvion will debut the   CORTEX EVO at   SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, Florida, building on the CORTEX architecture the company introduced at the same event last year. The EVO variant embeds power distribution, data connectivity, and processing directly into the helmet structure itself.

The idea is to reduce reliance on externally mounted components and enable more seamless interaction between sensing, visual, and communication systems. The system architecture combines a ballistic core, embedded power and data pathways, and a lightweight composite shell structure. Galvion says it rethinks component design to preserve the size, weight, and performance characteristics expected of a ballistic helmet while establishing a compact foundation for future configurations.

At the core of the system is Galvion’s AlertCentr software, which enables mission-relevant data to be delivered and managed at the headborne level. Integrated within TAK-based environments, AlertCentr supports configurable visual and audio cueing, allowing operators to access and act on critical information without diverting attention to secondary devices.

The capabilities on display at SOF Week include visual augmentation through TAK video and sensor feeds, sensing and awareness features for threat detection, digital headset integration for configurable alerts, and a unified power and data infrastructure for scalable subsystem integration. Galvion is taking an open architecture approach, allowing both in-house and third-party technologies to operate within the same environment.

The company has lined up several partners for the CORTEX ecosystem. Sentinel Photonics contributes laser threat detection, Adventure Lights provides IFF signaling and intermediary laser detection, Thermoteknix supports optical and fused imaging integration, and Distance Technologies contributes to advanced visual augmentation pathways.

Jonathan Blanshay, Galvion’s founder and executive chairman, said CORTEX EVO is the strongest expression of the company’s thinking to date. “It reimagines what a helmet can be, uniting protection, power, data and compute as a purpose-built platform.” He added that designing for the digitized soldier demands modularity, scalability, and upgradability, and the EVO delivers on all three.

You can see the CORTEX EVO at Galvion’s booth, #1739, during SOF Week, which runs May 18 through 21.