Army completes squad-level assessment with latest IVAS design

Army completes squad-level assessment with latest IVAS design
Army completes squad-level assessment with latest IVAS design

“The [user assessment’s] purpose is to measure system performance to ensure the phase 2 IVAS 1.2 prototype systems continue to meet design objectives,” said Program Executive Office Soldier spokesperson David Patterson.

US, Aussies funding Google undersea internet cables for Pacific Islands, with geostrategic implications

US, Aussies funding Google undersea internet cables for Pacific Islands, with geostrategic implications
US, Aussies funding Google undersea internet cables for Pacific Islands, with geostrategic implications

The investment by Australia and the United States into funding the new Google internet cables means the Pacific islands can avoid becoming integral parts of China’s global data collection.

Army fielding ‘up to’ 50 IVAS 1.0 mixed-reality goggles to soldiers at Fort Moore

Army fielding ‘up to’ 50 IVAS 1.0 mixed-reality goggles to soldiers at Fort Moore
Army fielding ‘up to’ 50 IVAS 1.0 mixed-reality goggles to soldiers at Fort Moore

After positive feedback on newest version, Army also greenlit production of an additional 280 IVAS 1.2 units and 11 Squad Immersive Virtual Trainer kits with a $95 million check.

DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge

DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge
DARPA, White House launch $20M AI, cybersecurity challenge

The Biden administration also unveiled a new executive order targeting US investment in Chinese AI, quantum and microelectronic tech.

Army’s pricey IVAS goggles meet a training obstacle: Doors

Army’s pricey IVAS goggles meet a training obstacle: Doors
Army’s pricey IVAS goggles meet a training obstacle: Doors

The Army is trying to mitigate “occlusion” problems for soldiers using Microsoft’s high-priced augmented reality system to spawn (and then kill) virtual “enemies” behind real objects.

Army gets first 20 IVAS 1.2 prototypes for key test in troubled $22B program

Army gets first 20 IVAS 1.2 prototypes for key test in troubled $22B program
Army gets first 20 IVAS 1.2 prototypes for key test in troubled $22B program

The Army’s acquisition chief called the 1.2 redesign the “right direction” but said “were it not to work out, we’d likely just do a new competition, perhaps with somewhat different requirements.”

EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft Federal president departs

EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft Federal president departs
EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft Federal president departs

President of Microsoft Federal Rick Wagner has “decided to leave the company,” a spokesman confirmed to Breaking Defense.

Boeing sees 5G, drone inspectors and augmented reality training key to future aircraft maintenance

Boeing sees 5G, drone inspectors and augmented reality training key to future aircraft maintenance
Boeing sees 5G, drone inspectors and augmented reality training key to future aircraft maintenance

Boeing officials recently demonstrated two separate efforts with the Air Force focused on aircraft mission and training readiness.

Last stand for IVAS? New challenges, delays as Army debates future of augmented reality goggles

Last stand for IVAS? New challenges, delays as Army debates future of augmented reality goggles
Last stand for IVAS? New challenges, delays as Army debates future of augmented reality goggles

Two key program managers tell Breaking Defense the future pathway for the program – and reveal that the Army has not fielded a single 1.0 version of the heads-up display because it doesn’t have the funding and hasn’t decided where those devices should be sent.

Pentagon awards first set of JWCC task orders to all 4 vendors

Pentagon awards first set of JWCC task orders to all 4 vendors
Pentagon awards first set of JWCC task orders to all 4 vendors

According to a DISA spokesperson, each big-name JWCC vendor received an equal task order, with the value of $3.8 million for some early testing of the concept.

Moving on: Army and Microsoft agree on path ahead for IVAS with latest 1.2 variant

Moving on: Army and Microsoft agree on path ahead for IVAS with latest 1.2 variant
Moving on: Army and Microsoft agree on path ahead for IVAS with latest 1.2 variant

The service now plans to field the IVAS 1.0 in August, two years later than initially expected, while also working with the company on a hardware redesign to alleviate physical problems soldiers experience while wearing the device for newer versions.

Cloud contracts, the JADC2 mystery and Russian cyber attacks: 2022 in Review

Cloud contracts, the JADC2 mystery and Russian cyber attacks: 2022 in Review
Cloud contracts, the JADC2 mystery and Russian cyber attacks: 2022 in Review

In the network world, 2022 saw the return of the (non) JEDI, the bumpy road to JADC2 and real-world lessons from the cyber dimension of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Pentagon awards Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle $9B cloud contract

Pentagon awards Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle $9B cloud contract
Pentagon awards Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Oracle $9B cloud contract

JWCC is a multi-vendor, multi-cloud follow up to the infamous single-source Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract, which was worth up to $10 billion and canceled in 2021.

Microsoft disrupts Russian-linked hackers targeting NATO countries

Microsoft disrupts Russian-linked hackers targeting NATO countries
Microsoft disrupts Russian-linked hackers targeting NATO countries

The company said information collected during SEABORGIUM intrusions likely supports traditional espionage objectives and information operations as opposed to financial motivations.