Microsoft wins $21.8 billion contract to build HoloLens-based AR helmets for US Army

midian182

Posts: 9,664   +121
Staff member
What just happened? Microsoft has won a contract to build mixed reality headsets for the US Army based on its own HoloLens technology. The Redmond firm will supply 120,000 Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) devices in a deal that could be worth up to $21.88 billion over the next ten years.

Microsoft began prototyping the system in 2018 after being awarded a $480 million contract. The new deal involves creating finalized production versions for soldiers.

The system combines high-resolution night, thermal, and soldier-borne sensors into a heads-up display. "The system also leverages augmented reality and machine learning to enable a life-like mixed reality training environment so the CCF can rehearse before engaging any adversaries," writes the US Army.

Tech companies working with branches of government and military is often a contentious issue, especially among their employees. In 2018, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella responded to an open letter co-signed by more than 100 Microsoft workers protesting the firm's work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Microsoft ran into a similar controversy after signing the initial contract with the Army for the IVAS prototypes. Employees once again expressed their disapproval in an open letter, forcing Nadella to defend the move. The CEO emphasized that Microsoft and the DoD would continue to work together.

"We made a principled decision that we're not going to withhold technology from institutions that we have elected in democracies to protect the freedoms we enjoy," said Nadella. "We were very transparent about that decision, and we'll continue to have that dialogue [with employees]."

Last April saw the DoD's Inspector General clear Microsoft's $10 billion JEDI contract after no evidence of wrongdoing was found. Amazon had disputed the decision to award its cloud rival the contract, claiming it is "uniquely experienced and qualified to provide the critical technology the US military needs, and remains committed to supporting the DoD's modernization efforts." The company alleged animosity between Jeff Bezos and Donald Trump led to the president ensuring Microsoft was chosen over Amazon.

Permalink to story.

 
War is often a great driver of technology. Unfortunately, when you’re fighting against people who are less technologically advanced and only using asymmetrical warfare against you on a low tech level it really doesn’t give you a chance to have any real challenge to overcome.

The reason why we don’t need the F22 and the F35 or the RAH66 is simply because the enemy that we are fighting doesn’t even have a real Air Force or even marginally effective air to air or ground to air capabilities.

We are fighting poorly armed, impoverished people who are tying cell phones to artillery shells and blowing up our tanks.

Fighting against AK-47s rather than advanced munitions.

Fighting against knives and beheadings rather than technology.

There is no scenario where America fights China or Russia that doesn’t escalate into a nuclear war.

This current technology is being developed without all of the future threats in mind simply because we have no idea what the future threats will be and the current threats are minimalistic.
 
War is often a great driver of technology. Unfortunately, when you’re fighting against people who are less technologically advanced and only using asymmetrical warfare against you on a low tech level it really doesn’t give you a chance to have any real challenge to overcome.

The reason why we don’t need the F22 and the F35 or the RAH66 is simply because the enemy that we are fighting doesn’t even have a real Air Force or even marginally effective air to air or ground to air capabilities.

We are fighting poorly armed, impoverished people who are tying cell phones to artillery shells and blowing up our tanks.

Fighting against AK-47s rather than advanced munitions.

Fighting against knives and beheadings rather than technology.

There is no scenario where America fights China or Russia that doesn’t escalate into a nuclear war.

This current technology is being developed without all of the future threats in mind simply because we have no idea what the future threats will be and the current threats are minimalistic.

China is acting out and trying to create war with everyone. What's the story with those 250 vessels in Philipino seas right now? What's China doing on the Indian border? What are they doing in Myanmar? Whats with the artificial islands they made in international waters? Why fly nuclear bombers over Taiwan every other day?

China is the current threat and all the tech being added to the military right now is important.

This article is good.

You are also incredibly disingenuous because you are clearly Chinese or at least ABC and deluded.
 
China is acting out and trying to create war with everyone. What's the story with those 250 vessels in Philipino seas right now? What's China doing on the Indian border? What are they doing in Myanmar? Whats with the artificial islands they made in international waters? Why fly nuclear bombers over Taiwan every other day?

China is the current threat and all the tech being added to the military right now is important.

This article is good.

You are also incredibly disingenuous because you are clearly Chinese or at least ABC and deluded.



China needn't fire a single bullet.

Meanwhile, they'll buy up all your buildings and houses and leave you deep in debt simply because you thought you were up against an army, while you were really up against Walmart.

WAKE UP.
 
China needn't fire a single bullet.

Meanwhile, they'll buy up all your buildings and houses and leave you deep in debt simply because you thought you were up against an army, while you were really up against Walmart.

WAKE UP.
IMO, what really needs to happen is that the US Government needs to wake up to history. As I understand it, the same sort of thing happened with Japan before WWII.
 
All these electronic gadgets for US army will be disabled instantly with an EMP generation that both Russia and China are currently capable of doing...!
 
Don't they understand that we need the troops tasked with seizing all the guns and deploying the mandatory vaccines with the best hardware?
 
China needn't fire a single bullet.

Meanwhile, they'll buy up all your buildings and houses and leave you deep in debt simply because you thought you were up against an army, while you were really up against Walmart.

WAKE UP.
Fun fact about real estate: you don't own it. You own the deed. Critical difference.

A deed grants you exclusive rights to use a piece of property however you see fit, so long as you follow local regulations - and pay your taxes. The only way to own actual land in the US is with a literal act of congress, with a "land grant" bill.

So if you think any Chinese nationals will continue to pay their taxes during a war between the US and China, and thus get to keep that property, I got a bridge to sell you. Well, the deed to a bridge.
 
All these electronic gadgets for US army will be disabled instantly with an EMP generation that both Russia and China are currently capable of doing...!
Or, you know, could put them in a ferromagnetic housing. Like, come on. This is EMF/EMI 101. Its even on Wikipedia.
 
Back