The US military received the first batch of IVAS augmented reality glasses based on Microsoft’s HoloLens headset. TechSpot writes about it.

The Integrated Vision Enhancement System (IVAS) integrates high-resolution night, thermal and military wearable sensors. Information is displayed in the helmet visor.

The headset uses augmented reality and artificial intelligence powered by Microsoft Azure cloud services to create a realistic mixed reality soldier training environment.

Purchase According to Deputy Secretary of Defense Douglas Bush, the first batch consists of 5,000. The cost of equipment is $ 373 million. In total, the army plans to purchase 120,000 devices.

Before increasing the volume of purchases, the department plans to test the effectiveness of the headphones.

“[Основываясь на результатах]Pentagon spokesman Jamal Beck said the Department of Defense will adjust its deployment plan to allow time to address deficiencies and dispatch units focused on training activities.

The contract for the supply of mixed reality headsets based on HoloLens Microsoft and the US Department of Defense was signed in 2018. The cost of the deal was $480 million.

In 2019, Microsoft employees expressed their dissatisfaction with the deal in an open letter to company management, forcing CEO Satya Nadella to respond.

“We have made a fundamental decision not to hide technology from institutions elected in democracies to protect the freedoms we save,” the company’s president said.

Nadella noted that the company was transparent about this decision and announced that the dialogue with the employees continues.

Recall that in March 2021, Microsoft won the US Department of Defense tender for the supply of 120,000 HoloLens-based augmented reality helmets. The contract, designed for 10 years, is estimated at $21.9 billion.

In May 2022, the Pentagon announced plans to cut spending on HoloLens headphones in half. According to the military, the initial estimate reflected “the worst possible cost.”