Microsoft Offloads $22 Billion HoloLens Military Project to Defense Firm – What’s Next?

by

Microsoft is planning to transfer the development and manufacturing of its military Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) hardware and software to a different company through a fresh collaboration with Anduril Industries, a U.S-based defense technology firm.

Microsoft appears to be stepping away from all first-party mixed reality projects, as indicated by recent developments. Last year, they shut down their Windows Mixed Reality platform and ceased production on HoloLens 2. Moreover, in 2022, they officially canceled the development of HoloLens 3.

Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Mixed Reality, Robin Seiler, expressed pride in a blog post about how their teams have assisted the U.S. Army in making the concept of an AR headset worn by soldiers a reality through the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program. By employing a Soldier-Centered Design approach, they collaboratively rethought technology development with the Army, consistently incorporating soldier feedback to create a product that soldiers appreciate. They are eager to collaborate with Anduril in the next phase of IVAS and utilize their combined abilities to fulfill commitments on this essential program and deliver a groundbreaking capability for every U.S. soldier.

IVAS (Integrated Visual Augmentation System) is a customized model of HoloLens 2, specifically developed for the U.S. military. In 2021, Microsoft secured a $22 billion contract to provide an advanced reality device to American soldiers. However, this project has encountered numerous challenges during its development process. At present, the version in use is IVAS 1.2, which resolves significant problems and concerns raised by soldiers who tested earlier versions of the hardware.

Under this collaboration, Anduril Industries intends to rely on Microsoft Azure as their primary high-scale cloud platform for handling all tasks associated with the IVAS project and Anduril AI technology. In his words, Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, expressed that the objective is to establish a military environment where technology serves as an extension of human capacity. By equipping soldiers with effective decision-making tools, we are working towards a future where technology and human innovation coalesce, ultimately ensuring mission success.

If the collaboration is given the green light, it signifies the conclusion of a Microsoft-produced augmented reality device destined for military use. From then on, Anduril Industries would handle the design, development, and manufacturing of both hardware and software. However, this partnership must first receive approval from the U.S. Department of Defense to move forward.

Read More

2025-02-11 23:39