Meta and Anduril Forge Defense Tech Alliance for Next-Gen Military XR
In a landmark collaboration, Meta and defense tech firm Anduril announced a joint initiative to develop cutting-edge extended reality (XR) devices for the U.S. military. This partnership marks a significant professional milestone for Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey, who previously led Oculus VR before its acquisition by Meta (then Facebook).
From IVAS to EagleEye: The Evolution of Military XR
The collaboration stems from the Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC) Next program, the successor to Microsoft’s troubled Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) initiative. Key developments:
- $22B program originally awarded to Microsoft in 2018
- Anduril assumed control in February 2025 after technical challenges
- Microsoft remains involved as a cloud provider
- Program now structured for multiple supplier participation
The Technology Behind the Partnership
The joint solution will leverage:
- Meta’s Reality Labs XR research
- Llama AI for advanced decision support
- Anduril’s Lattice command-and-control platform
This combination aims to deliver real-time battlefield intelligence through heads-up displays, transforming situational awareness for warfighters.
Palmer Luckey’s Full-Circle Moment
The partnership represents a professional reconciliation for Luckey, who:
- Founded Oculus VR (acquired by Facebook for $2B in 2014)
- Was controversially dismissed in 2017
- Launched Anduril that same year
“I am glad to be working with Meta once again,” Luckey stated. “My mission has long been to turn warfighters into technomancers, and the products we’re building do just that.”
EagleEye: From Concept to Reality
The product family, dubbed EagleEye, fulfills Luckey’s original vision for military XR:
- Named after Anduril’s conceptual headset in early pitch decks
- Represents a complete ecosystem of XR devices
- Combines Meta’s hardware expertise with Anduril’s defense software
“It’s pretty cool to have everything at our fingertips for this joint effort,” Luckey tweeted, referencing his pre- and post-Meta technological developments.
Strategic Implications for Defense Technology
This collaboration signals:
- Growing defense sector adoption of commercial XR tech
- Increased competition in military-grade augmented reality
- Potential for faster innovation through public-private partnerships
The initiative also demonstrates how personal and professional narratives can intersect in the tech industry, with Luckey now positioned as a key bridge between Silicon Valley and defense innovation.
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