According to ArmyTimes reports, the U.S. Army is actively advancing the evaluation of the IVAS headset 1.2 prototype, which has recently been approved to enter the second phase. This means that Microsoft will need to deliver more HoloLens-based IVAS headsets to the U.S. military in the coming months.
Soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment have tested 20 IVAS headsets for weapons compatibility, navigation and mission planning, the report said. At present, the test results are satisfactory to the US Army. The Army will award a contract for the second field study between July and September 2024, and could enter operational testing as soon as April 2025, months after the Army could field the IVAS.
The second phase of IVAS is mainly to strengthen the cooperation between the two parties and further reduce the cost of the headset. It was reported in July this year that Microsoft delivered an improved HoloLens headset to the U.S. Army. The new AR headset can reduce nausea and other adverse reactions.
Microsoft says the new headset is “thinner, lighter, and more balanced” than previous models, and the wearing experience will be significantly improved to improve soldiers’ performance.
