Previously known as the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program, now renamed as Soldier Borne Mission Command, is currently looking for a new home.
IVAS was being developed by Microsoft as a sort of virtual reality headset that soldiers could wear, except it was more mixed reality than virtual. The headset could provide soldiers with a "heads up display" showing them mission-critical information while working in conjunction with night vision technologies.
The program was struck with a series of delays, budgeting issues, and issues that came out during field testing with soldiers who reported that the IVAS made them dizzy and even sick during use.
Redubbed the Soldier Borne Mission Command, the program is now seeking a new sponsor, with Microsoft teaming up with Anduril and hoping to turn the program over to them. The partnership must first gain approval from the Department of Defense, which, as of this writing, has yet to come. Anduril founder Palmer Luckey has previous experience with these types of headsets, having invented the Oculus.
"The IVAS program represents the future of mission command, combining technology and human capability to give soldiers the edge they need on the battlefield," Luckey said in a recent press release. "The ultimate goal is to create a military ecosystem where technology acts as an extension of human capability. By empowering soldiers with the tools they need to make faster, smarter decisions, we’re building a future where technology and human ingenuity combine to ensure mission success."
According to the Department of Defense roadmap for the Soldier Borne Mission Command project, a new contract will be awarded to one of the bidding companies this August.