The United States Army will equip its soldiers with HoloLens glasses

Microsoft has just signed a $ 480 million contract with the US military to equip soldiers with HoloLens glbades. More than 100,000 copies of the product should be delivered.

In January 2017, the Australian Army conducted some tests with the HoloLens. © Saab Australia.

Microsoft's augmented reality goggles have not really made their way to the general public for obvious cost reasons, but they're poised to become a pretty good place in other areas, especially in the military. Bloomberg reveals that the US military has signed a contract with Microsoft for its soldiers to be equipped, both for training (what we already knew) that in combat, which is a first. The amount of the contract is $ 480 million and would cover more than 100,000 copies of HoloLens delivered in the coming years. Microsoft would have won the tender against Magic Leap which offers – in theory – a very advanced technology, but whose glbades are not yet fully finalized.

The Pentagon states that the use of augmented reality glbades will allow "To increase lethality by improving the ability to detect, decide and engage before the enemy", Microsoft adding that "Augmented reality technology will provide troops with more and better information for making decisions. This new work expands our long-standing trust relationship with the Ministry of Defense ".

With this contract, the US military becomes the first customer of Microsoft for its HoloLens. The version provided will, however, be substantially adapted to specific needs. Bloomberg evokes the addition of nocturnal and thermal visions, the ability to measure vital signs such as breathing, or a reinforced helmet at the ears.