Congress has rejected the US military’s request for funding to buy more combat goggles from Microsoft, according to a report. The military is asking for $400 million to buy around 6,900 glasses, which are based on Microsoft HoloLens headsetwas canceled because field tests showed the helmets caused “mission-affecting physical disabilities” such as headaches and nausea, Bloomberg reported Thursday.
Lawmakers have approved $40 million in funding to develop a new model of eyewear, Army spokesman David Patterson told the outlet in an email.
In December, the military has issued a “mission order” to Microsoft to develop a new variant of combat goggles, called version 1.2. The money for the order came from funding acquired in 2021. The Army wrote that the new variant will address “physiological” issues identified during testing. Field testing for version 1.2 of the glasses is expected to begin in September.
Microsoft said it was focused on improving the technology.
The company is “committed to working with the military to further develop [Integrated Visual Augmentation System] technology,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in an email to CNET. “The steady pace of building and testing IVAS … will help us refine and improve the technology to ensure it provides unparalleled protection and capabilities to US soldiers.”
To find out more, see the US Army’s $21.88 billion contract to produce combat gogglesas good as CNET hands-on review of Microsoft’s HoloLens 2.
