US Army Tests New Mixed-Reality Headsets from Anduril and Rivet After IVAS Struggles

Following years of setbacks with its Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program based on Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, the US Army is once again exploring mixed-reality (MR) solutions for dismounted soldiers. This time, two defense tech startups—Anduril Industries and Rivet—have been awarded contracts to develop alternative MR headsets under a new prototyping effort aimed at improving battlefield awareness without the bulk or limitations of previous designs.

From IVAS Disappointments to a Fresh Start

The US Army’s initial foray into mixed reality came via the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS), a $22 billion program launched in 2018 that sought to equip soldiers with a ruggedized version of Microsoft’s HoloLens 2 headset. The goal was ambitious: provide real-time navigation overlays, thermal imaging feeds, weapon sight integration, and C2 data directly into the soldier’s field of view. However, despite multiple iterations and over $2 billion spent by FY2023, IVAS faced persistent issues—ranging from nausea-inducing visuals and poor low-light performance to excessive weight and limited battery life.

By late 2023, Congress had slashed funding for IVAS after operational testing revealed that soldiers often preferred traditional optics or tablets over wearing the headset in combat scenarios. Although Microsoft continues to refine IVAS under version 1.2 as part of a limited deployment plan (with up to 10,000 units expected), the Army has simultaneously opened the door to alternative solutions.

New Prototypes from Anduril and Rivet

In September 2025, The Register reported that Anduril Industries and Rivet were selected by the US Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier) to deliver prototype MR headsets under an Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement—a flexible contracting mechanism used for rapid prototyping outside traditional acquisition channels.

While specific contract values have not been disclosed publicly as of this writing, both companies are expected to deliver initial prototypes within 12 months. These devices will be evaluated for their ability to integrate with Nett Warrior systems (a dismounted situational awareness suite), tactical radios like AN/PRC-163 or TrellisWare TW-950 TSM networks, weapon-mounted sensors such as Family of Weapon Sights-Individual (FWS-I), and ATAK-compatible software environments.

Anduril’s approach reportedly leverages its experience in edge-AI processing and sensor fusion—core technologies behind its Lattice OS battle management system. The company may also draw on its work with autonomous platforms like Ghost-X drones or Sentry Towers for real-time ISR integration into soldier-worn devices.

Rivet, a lesser-known startup founded by former Apple engineers in 2021 according to Crunchbase data, is said to be focusing on ultra-lightweight optics with minimal latency using custom silicon optimized for low-power AR rendering. Their design philosophy emphasizes passive situational enhancement rather than full immersive overlays—a key lesson learned from IVAS trials where sensory overload proved counterproductive in high-stress environments.

Tactical Requirements Driving Design Choices

The new MR prototypes are being developed under refined requirements shaped by feedback from over four years of soldier touchpoints during IVAS testing. Key priorities now include:

Weight & Ergonomics: Devices must not exceed ~1 kg total weight including battery pack; helmet-mountable configurations are preferred.
Power Efficiency: Minimum four-hour continuous operation; hot-swappable batteries desirable.
Sensors & Integration: Compatibility with thermal/IR cameras via USB-C or wireless links; support for GNSS-denied navigation cues using inertial measurement units (IMUs).
User Interface: Minimal training curve; intuitive controls operable under gloves or via voice commands in noisy environments.
Cybersecurity & EW Resilience: Hardened against spoofing/jamming; compliant with CMOSS/OpenVPX standards where applicable.

The devices must also operate across diverse environments—from urban MOUT sites to Arctic conditions—and support both day/night operations without requiring frequent recalibration or software updates in field conditions.

A Broader Ecosystem Play Beyond Just Headsets

This prototyping effort aligns with broader trends in dismounted C4ISR modernization across NATO forces. Rather than treating MR headsets as standalone gadgets, current doctrine emphasizes their role within a layered digital battlefield architecture—including tactical cloudlets at the edge (e.g., Project Convergence nodes), AI-assisted decision aids like Vignette or Maven Smart System Integration Frameworks (SSIF), and persistent ISR feeds from Group 1–3 UAS platforms.

If successful, these headsets could become key nodes within multi-domain operations (MDO) frameworks—enabling squad leaders not only to “see through walls” via fused sensor inputs but also push/receive mission-critical data across echelons without breaking visual contact from targets or terrain features. This would represent a major leap over legacy systems like monocular NVGs paired with handheld GPS devices or radios lacking spatial awareness tools.

Cautious Optimism Amidst Lessons Learned

The US Army remains cautious about over-promising MR capabilities after the bruising experience with IVAS. Officials have emphasized that these new efforts are exploratory—not full programs of record—and will undergo rigorous soldier-centered evaluation before any scaling decisions are made beyond FY2026. Early lab testing is expected at Fort Belvoir followed by limited field trials at Fort Moore or JRTC rotations depending on readiness timelines.

If either prototype proves viable under operational conditions—including live-fire exercises—the Army may issue follow-on production contracts under Rapid Fielding Initiatives (RFI) or even integrate them into Capability Set cycles aligned with Joint All-Domain Command & Control (JADC2) objectives post-2027.

Outlook: A Second Chance for Soldier-Worn AR?

The shift toward smaller vendors like Anduril and Rivet reflects growing Pentagon interest in agile defense tech firms capable of iterative development cycles—especially when legacy primes struggle with adapting commercial tech like HoloLens into rugged military form factors. Whether this gamble pays off remains uncertain—but it signals that wearable augmented reality still holds promise if grounded in operational realism rather than Silicon Valley hype cycles.

Sources

“US Army straps on another mixed-reality gamble with Anduril, Rivet” — The Register — link
“Army Cuts Funding For Microsoft’s Combat Goggles After Test Failures” — Bloomberg Government — link
“The Integrated Visual Augmentation System” — Congressional Research Service — link
“Anduril Industries Overview” — Defense News / Company Website — link
“Rivet Company Profile” — Crunchbase — link
“PEO Soldier Modernization Priorities” — US Army Acquisition Support Center — link