The contract might bring more than $21 billion over 10 years.
Microsoft has won a contract to supply the US Army with HoloLens-based headsets. The contract could be worth up to $21.88 billion over 10 years, and CNBC reports that it will involve Microsoft supplying 120,000 headsets. The software maker has been working closely with the Army since 2018, and soldiers have been testing the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) headsets over the past two years. These devices combine high-resolution night, thermal, and soldier-borne sensors into a heads-up display.
“The system also leverages augmented reality and machine learning to enable a life-like mixed reality training environment so the Close Combat Force (CCF) can rehearse before engaging any adversaries,” reads a US Army statement.
Microsoft initially won a $479 million contract to supply the US Army with a version of its HoloLens augmented reality headset back in 2018. It was a move that was met with fierce resistance from some Microsoft employees, forcing CEO Satya Nadella to respond. However, the calls didn’t stop the United States Department of Defense and Microsoft from working together on this new headset.
“Microsoft has worked closely with the US Army over the past two years, and together we pioneered Soldier Centered Design to enable rapid prototyping for a product to provide Soldiers with the tools and capabilities necessary to achieve their mission,” says Alex Kipman, HoloLens' inventor.
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