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Microsoft and Anduril Industries have expanded their partnership to drive the next phase of the US Army’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System program.
Under this agreement, and subject to approval by the US Department of Defense, Anduril will take charge of overseeing production, future development of hardware and software, and delivery timelines for the program.
The agreement also establishes Microsoft Azure as Anduril’s preferred hyperscale cloud for all workloads related to the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) and Anduril AI technologies.
As modern warfare becomes increasingly complex, the need for intuitive, information-rich tools to support soldiers on the battlefield has never been more urgent. Traditional mission command systems, which rely on flat maps, static dashboards and verbal communication, are increasingly ineffective in the fast-paced, dynamic nature of contemporary conflicts.
The IVAS program represents a revolutionary leap in military technology, offering soldiers a comprehensive, body-worn system that integrates advanced augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to provide beyond line-of-sight perception. This enhanced capability increases combat effectiveness, improves survivability against drones and accelerates mission command of unmanned systems.
This collaboration between Anduril and Microsoft brings together the strengths of both companies to ensure the program’s continuity while advancing its objectives of enhancing combat effectiveness, awareness and decision making.
Anduril’s focus on innovation in defence technology, combined with its deep understanding of military requirements, will ensure future development of the program is specifically tailored to meet the evolving needs of the US Army. The company’s unique approach to manufacturing defence products will also support large-scale production at reduced unit costs.
Palmer Luckey, the founder of Anduril, said, “By combining technology with human capability, we’re giving soldiers the edge they need on the battlefield. Our ultimate goal is to create a military ecosystem where technology is an extension of human ability. By empowering soldiers with the tools to make faster, smarter decisions, we’re building a future where technology and human ingenuity ensure mission success.”
Microsoft’s advanced cloud infrastructure and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities will provide a solid foundation for the program, enabling seamless data integration and real-time insights that are critical to soldier effectiveness. AI will play a central role in all technical innovations for national security missions, with the cloud being essential for delivering AI whenever and wherever it’s needed.
Through this partnership, Anduril will use Azure as its preferred hyperscale cloud to support AI development, benefiting from the platform’s high resiliency, sophisticated capabilities, flexibility and robust security – key factors for meeting the strict compliance requirements of the US government.
Since its inception in 2017, Anduril has focused on developing cutting-edge defence technologies to solve unique challenges faced by warfighters. Having previously revolutionised the virtual reality industry with Oculus, Luckey is now applying his insights to shape the future of military technology.
“The IVAS program represents the future of mission command,” Luckey said.
Microsoft’s Corporate vice president of mixed reality, Robin Seiler, expressed pride in the collaboration, saying, “We’re incredibly proud of the work our teams have done to help the US Army turn the concept of a soldier-borne AR headset into reality with the IVAS program. Our soldier-centred design approach reimagined technology development by continuously incorporating soldier feedback to create a product they love.”
Seiler added, “We’re excited to partner with Anduril for the next phase of IVAS, leveraging our combined strengths to deliver a game-changing capability for every US soldier.”
Microsoft and Anduril have already worked together to integrate Anduril’s Lattice platform into the IVAS program, enhancing situational awareness and operational effectiveness through AI. This new agreement strengthens their collaboration, bringing together their expertise in cloud computing, AI and defence manufacturing to drive further advancements in technical development and operational efficiency.
