Microsoft (MSFT, Financials) and Anduril Industries expanded their partnership to advance the U.S. Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System program, the companies announced Tuesday.
Under awaiting Department of Defense approval, the arrangement gives Anduril control over manufacturing, hardware and software development, and delivery schedules.
Under the arrangement, Anduril will designate Microsoft Azure as its preferred cloud provider for all IVAS-related workloads including Anduril's artificial intelligence capabilities.
Integrating augmented reality and virtual reality capabilities into a soldier-worn device, the IVAS initiative is meant to improve combat awareness. By means of beyond-line-of-sight sensing, enhanced survivability against drones, and quicker mission command of unmanned systems, the technology seeks to increase combat effectiveness.
The cooperation builds on past cooperation between Anduril and Microsoft, including the integration of Anduril's Lattice platform into IVAS. The device offers situational awareness features provided by artificial intelligence meant to improve troop operating efficiency and safety. The cloud architecture and artificial intelligence tools of Microsoft will enable program analytics and real-time data integration.
Emphasizing the value of technology in enabling troops with real-time decision-making capabilities, Anduril creator Palmer Luckey said the IVAS program represents the future of military mission command. Robin Seiler, Microsoft corporate vice president of Mixed Reality, emphasized the company's method of including soldier comments in product development and said that the cooperation seeks to enhance program commitments.
Founded in 2017, Anduril focuses on defense technologies and military solutions powered by artificial intelligence. Data feeds into a real-time 3D command and control center on the Lattice platform of the corporation. Through Azure's commercial, government, and classified cloud services, Microsoft—developing AI-powered tools and platforms—will keep supporting IVAS.
In line with Army modernization objectives, the enlarged alliance seeks to grow IVAS production while reducing unit costs. The firms withheld the financial specifics of the transaction.
