Anduril and Meta Join Forces for Army’s New AR Headset Project

WASHINGTON — Anduril and Meta announced today they are teaming up to compete for the U.S. Army‘s Soldier-Borne Mission Command program, previously known as IVAS. This partnership aims to design and build integrated extended reality (XR) products for military use.

The collaboration was unveiled in a joint statement where the companies highlighted their combined expertise in hardware, software, and artificial intelligence. It emphasizes that the development is funded entirely through private investment, aiming to save the U.S. military billions of dollars using advanced technology originally designed for commercial markets.

Palmer Luckey, the founder of Anduril and the original architect behind the Oculus headset, expressed his enthusiasm about working with Meta again. He stated, “My mission has long been to turn warfighters into technomancers, and the products we are developing with Meta do just that.”

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta, expressed confidence in the partnership, noting, “We’re proud to partner with Anduril to help bring these technologies to the American servicemembers that protect our interests at home and abroad.”

Initially, the focus of the partnership will be a new military headset called Eagle Eye, which aims to enhance soldiers’ situational awareness on the battlefield. The headset is expected to incorporate advanced AR capabilities along with night-vision and thermal-sensing technologies.

Anduril took over the IVAS project from Microsoft due to ongoing issues with the headsets’ performance. After announcing a recompete in 2022, the program was renamed Soldier-Borne Mission Command. The partnership has already submitted a proposal for the upcoming contract.

Anduril’s past experience with advanced military systems has positioned the company favorably in its bid for the new contract. The firm has built a reputation for innovative approaches to defense procurement, often circumventing traditional methods to provide cost-effective solutions.

The significance of this alliance extends beyond a contract. As the tech industry becomes more involved in military applications, this partnership could reflect a shifting landscape in defense technology, bringing Silicon Valley closer to the defense establishment. Luckey remarked, “It’s time to finish the fight.”