Anduril's AR Headsets Could Revolutionize Military Combat by 2028

Anduril Industries is developing two augmented reality (AR) headsets for the U.S. military. One system, designed for the Army’s Soldier Born Mission Command (SBMC) programme, attaches to existing helmets and aims to enhance combat effectiveness. The company is also working on a separate, self-funded project called Eagle Eye, which merges a helmet and headset into a single unit.

The SBMC headset is intended to turn soldiers into more efficient combatants by integrating advanced controls. Users could direct drone strikes using eye-tracking technology and issue commands through voice recognition. The U.S. Army awarded a $159 million prototype contract for this system in 2021, with Meta contributing to its development.

However, the Army will not choose its preferred option for the SBMC programme until 2028. Even then, production would only begin after that decision—if it happens at all. Past military tech projects have shown that ambitious systems like this often face delays or cancellation before reaching soldiers in the field. Meanwhile, Anduril’s *Eagle Eye* project takes a different approach. Unlike SBMC, which clips onto standard helmets, this system combines the helmet and AR display into one piece of gear. The company is funding this initiative independently, without a direct military contract.

The SBMC headset remains in development, with no guaranteed deployment date. If selected in 2028, it could redefine how soldiers interact with drones and battlefield data. For now, its future depends on testing, funding decisions, and the Army’s long-term priorities.