Microsoft Secures $95M Army Contract for Additional IVAS 1.2 Units, Virtual Trainers

The U.S. Army has awarded Microsoft a $95 million contract for additional Integrated Visual Augmentation System 1.2 headsets and virtual trainers.

Under the contract, Microsoft will develop and deliver 280 IVAS 1.2 systems and 11 immersive virtual trainers to support planned testing in fiscal year 2024. The headsets to be delivered include pre-production units and equipment that represent the final IVAS version.

Doug Bush, assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology and a 2023 Wash100 awardee, said testers re-engineered the headsets to address physical and technological concerns soldiers raised during early testing. Following updates, Bush said soldiers provided positive feedback about the system, giving him confidence to proceed with the IVAS program.

The Army plans to field an improved IVAS version by the end of fiscal 2025, DefenseScoop reported.

The Microsoft award comes after the company delivered 20 IVAS 1.2 prototypes to the service in late July. The headsets feature upgrades based on feedback from soldiers who have been testing IVAS 1.0 since 2022, said Program Manager Soldier Warrior Col. Anthony Gibbs.

IVAS is a virtual reality and mixed reality headset based on the Microsoft HoloLens 2 that includes a heads-up display that integrates situational awareness tools and simulations, giving soldiers enhanced mobility and lethality regardless of weather and lighting conditions. It also provides 3D mapping and navigation capabilities and can ingest data from unmanned aerial vehicles and weapons systems.