Kopin Corporation has secured a $15.4 million US Army contract to produce “ultra-bright, full-color” MicroLED augmented reality (AR) displays, designed to sharpen soldiers’ vision in combat environments.
The firm stated the award cements its position within the US defense innovation and manufacturing ecosystem. Unlike conventional display technologies, MicroLED AR units are brighter, tougher, and more efficient, enabling soldiers to maintain clear visuals in both strong sunlight and low-light conditions. They are also engineered to prevent visual disruptions that could impair mission performance during extended use.
The initiative expands on Kopin’s earlier Soldier Display Trade Study and Phase 2 SBIR program, which developed an off-the-visor extended reality prototype. It also includes setting up a domestic production line under the Industrial Base Analysis program managed by the Army Contracting Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
Kopin, with 40+ years of experience and more than 400,000 defense vision systems delivered, remains a longstanding partner in military optics. Earlier in April 2025, it was awarded $7.5 million to supply microdisplays to a US Department of Defense contractor.
