In a fresh move by a Silicon Valley defense company to promote its own approach to the Army’s mixed-reality goals, Anduril Industries introduced “EagleEye” on Monday—a helmet-based computing platform designed to enhance soldiers with AI capabilities.
This debut stands out as the project is spearheaded by Anduril’s co-founder Palmer Luckey, who previously founded Oculus, the trailblazing VR firm later acquired by Meta.
Anduril presents EagleEye as a modular “system family” built on its Lattice software, providing soldiers with command tools, sensor data, and AI overlays directly in their line of sight.
According to the company, EagleEye can merge live video streams, uses rear and side sensors to warn users of dangers, and allows real-time tracking of fellow soldiers. The system comes in several forms, including a helmet, visor, and glasses.
This unveiling arrives as the U.S. Army seeks to broaden its roster of mixed-reality equipment providers. Previously, it relied on Microsoft’s Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS)—a $22 billion contract awarded in 2018—but after persistent setbacks, the Army transferred the contract to Anduril this February.
In September, Anduril secured a $159 million contract to develop a prototype mixed-reality system for troops, as part of the larger Soldier Borne Mission Command initiative. The company described this as “the largest project of its type” to equip “every soldier with enhanced perception and decision-making abilities.”
Earlier this year, Anduril also revealed a collaboration with Meta to create extended reality (XR) hardware for military use, reuniting Luckey with his previous employer in an unexpected partnership.
“I’m pleased to be collaborating with Meta again,” Luckey wrote in a blog post. “My goal has always been to empower warfighters with advanced technology, and our joint products with Meta are making that a reality.”
EagleEye’s origins go back to Anduril’s earliest pitch deck, though investors initially persuaded the team to prioritize software like Lattice.
“Trying to compete directly with Microsoft and Magic Leap would have been a discouraging, unrealistic pursuit,” Luckey posted on X in February. “But things have changed. The world is ready, and so is Anduril.”