Soldiers' Gear: Can Army, Microsoft Cut Costs on IVAS Headsets?

The US Army is pushing Microsoft to lower the price of its HoloLens-based IVAS headsets. These high-tech goggles have seen a bumpy journey since 2018 when Microsoft began developing them. The Army wants the price tag of $80, 000 per unit to drop significantly. The project, initially worth $480 million, has grown to potentially $21. 9 billion over a decade. The Army is now testing a revised, slimmer prototype that addresses past issues like field of view limitations and discomfort.

The Army's acquisition chief, Doug Bush, emphasized the need for affordability, with the goal being a cheaper headset. Microsoft is working on cost reductions, including examining components, labor, and supply chain. The IVAS headsets, powered by Microsoft Azure, offer advanced features like mixed-reality training.

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