The US Army has adopted the Microsoft HoloLens VR headset for production and field testing with its troops, using the Microsoft Azure cloud services for situational awareness and more.
The headset, produced and trialled as part of the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program, allows
soldiers to enable information settings and decision making in a variety of scenarios.
The US Army is no
stranger to testing AR/VR headsets for its military personnel, trialling augmented reality goggles for its combat dogs
to receive orders remotely.
In a statement, the Program Executive Office Soldier commented: “The Army’s partnership with
Microsoft redefined the timeline for rapid development and production of a major defence program by taking advantage of
the Middle Tier of Acquisition and Other Transaction authorities and partnering with a non-traditional defence contractor that
is an industry leader in developing innovative technology.
“The partnership between the Army and Microsoft illustrates areas
that the Department of Defence and industry can work together towards achieving modernisation priorities in the interest of
national security.”
Pictured: A US Army soldier wearing the Microsoft HoloLens mounted on an Advanced Combat Helmet (ACW).