Augmented reality glasses may be used in combat missions.
Microsoft has been awarded a $480 million contract to supply the US Army with prototype HoloLens augmented reality systems for use in combat missions and training, according to a filing with the General Services Administration.
The contract could eventually lead to the military purchasing over 100,000 AR headsets as part of a program to “increase lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide and engage before the enemy,” according to Bloomberg, which reported the news earlier Wednesday. AR headset rival MagicLeap was also reported to have been bidding for the Army’s contract.
“Augmented reality technology will provide troops with more and better information to make decisions,” a Microsoft spokesman said in a statement. “This new work extends our longstanding, trusted relationship with the Department of Defense to this new area.
