The Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) program office employed critical thinking and innovative practices in the strategy, planning and execution of IVAS–an acquisition program designed to give our Soldiers, Marines and Special Operators a decisive advantage in close-combat capability. The program team leveraged the Adaptive Acquisition Framework, Middle Tier of Acquisition Pathway/Rapid Prototyping Path as highlighted in DoDI 5000.80, as well as Other Transaction Authorities to contract with Microsoft and other traditional and non-traditional vendors. Additionally, they involved Soldiers in the design and test process (“Soldier-Centered Design”), collaborated with key stakeholders and industry as one team (the “right team”), and effectively identified, managed and drove down risk as development and testing progressed.
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IVAS is a low-profile, ruggedized Heads-Up Display (HUD) with a body borne computer pack, Conformal Wearable Battery (CWB), squad radio, and integrated thermal and low light sensors that provides the Close Combat Force a single platform to fight, rehearse, and train. The IVAS suite of capabilities leverages tactical mixed reality to enable planning, networked information sharing via Tactical Cloud Package (TCP) and Cloud Services, and an augmented reality Synthetic Training Environment (STE) and Squad immersive Virtual Trainer (SiVT) that enables the Warfighter to fight ‘25 bloodless battles’ before engaging the enemy. IVAS integrates next generation situational awareness tools and high-resolution simulations to deliver a single platform that improves Soldier sensing, decision making, target acquisition, and target engagement. These capabilities will provide the increased lethality, mobility, and situational awareness necessary to achieve overmatch against our current and future adversaries.
Team IVAS is on target to begin production in March 2021, with first unit equipped in September 2021, accelerating the development process by more than four years compared to traditional acquisition processes.
Written by Tony Romano, DAU