Kopin Secures U.S. Army Funding to Develop See-Through Extended Reality (XR) Prototypes for Warfighters

Rhea-AI Summary

Kopin (NASDAQ: KOPN) has secured new funding from the U.S. Army to develop and produce see-through extended reality (XR) heads-up display prototypes. The innovative off-the-visor (OTV) approach aims to enhance battlefield situational awareness for warfighters.

The technology addresses key challenges in existing augmented reality headsets, including light security, power consumption, eye strain, and latency-induced nausea. The OTV design offers brighter and more energy-efficient display light transmission while ensuring visual comfort.

The first wave of prototypes is ready for demonstration, featuring upgrade paths for next-generation technologies including:

• Kopin's Color MicroLED
• AI-enabled NeuralDisplay™
• DayVAS™ (Daytime Visual Augmentation System)
• DarkWAVE™ modular HUDs

Positive

• Secured new U.S. Army funding contract
• First wave of prototypes ready for demonstration
• Technology addresses multiple existing AR headset limitations
• Clear upgrade paths for next-generation technologies

Negative

• None.

Insights

Defense Technology Analyst

Kopin's new U.S. Army funding award represents a strategic win that strengthens the company's position in the military extended reality (XR) market. The announcement is significant as it validates Kopin's technical approach and creates a potential pathway to larger defense contracts.

The off-the-visor (OTV) XR technology addresses critical shortcomings in existing military augmented reality systems - specifically light security, power consumption, eye strain, and motion sickness issues that have hampered battlefield adoption. Having the first wave of prototypes ready for demonstration indicates Kopin has made substantial progress beyond conceptual design.

For a company with Kopin's $152 million market capitalization, military contracts provide valuable revenue stability and growth potential. While the funding amount remains undisclosed, defense development contracts typically evolve into larger production opportunities if prototypes prove successful.

The technology's integration pathway with Kopin's other innovations (Color MicroLED, AI-enabled NeuralDisplay™, DayVAS™, and DarkWAVE™) suggests a comprehensive product ecosystem rather than a one-off development. This creates multiple potential revenue streams through technology cross-pollination.

What's particularly valuable here is that Kopin has focused on human factors and soldier-centric design - addressing a key friction point in military XR adoption. By prioritizing combat effectiveness and user comfort, they've aligned perfectly with the Army's battlefield requirements.

Off-the-visor XR prototypes designed to enhance battlefield situational awareness

WESTBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), a leading provider of application-specific optical systems and high-performance microdisplays for defense, training, enterprise, industrial, consumer and medical products, is proud to announce a new funding award from the U.S. Army, to develop and produce a cutting-edge see-through extended reality (XR) heads-up display (HUD). This innovative XR HUD module aims to deliver visually comfortable performance for use in applications that revolutionize battlefield situational awareness and operational impact.

Kopin’s see-through off-the-Visor (OTV) approach offers a brighter, more energy-efficient display light transmission while ensuring visual comfort, setting a new standard for soldier acceptance and operational superiority. Building on the lessons learned from existing augmented reality headsets, Kopin’s OTV prototypes address critical challenges such as light security, power consumption, eye strain and latency causing nausea.

The first wave of these advanced prototypes is ready to be demonstrated, showcasing not just immediate improvements but also clear upgrade paths for next-gen microdisplays like Kopin’s Color MicroLED, AI enabled NeuralDisplay™, and modular HUDs like DayVAS™ (Daytime Visual Augmentation System) and DarkWAVE™.

“Our off-the-visor approach not only resolves the challenges of current systems but also prioritizes human factors and sets a new standard for soldier-centric design”, said Nic Peterson, Director of Warfighter Vision. “It’s about giving warfighters the tactical advantage — keeping their eyes on the fight, rather than down on a screen. We’re excited to demonstrate our prototypes and work toward full integration of our XR HUD solutions with other companies who have body worn computers, networking, and power management components.”

The funding award underscores the U.S. Army’s dedication to harnessing cutting-edge technology to safeguard its troops against the evolving threats of modern warfare. Kopin’s see-through prototypes mark a substantial leap forward from earlier system designs, aiming to enhance situational awareness, streamline decision-making and most importantly save lives on the battlefield.

About Kopin

Kopin Corporation is a leading developer and provider of innovative display, and application-specific optical solutions sold as critical components and subassemblies for defense, enterprise, professional and consumer products. Kopin’s portfolio includes microdisplays, display modules, eyepiece assemblies, image projection modules, and vehicle mounted and head-mounted display systems that incorporate ultra-small high-resolution Active Matrix Liquid Crystal displays (AMLCD), Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal on Silicon (FLCoS) displays, MicroLED displays (µLED) and Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, a variety of optics, and low-power ASICs. For more information, please visit Kopin’s website at www.kopin.com. Kopin is a trademark of Kopin Corporation.

Follow us on LinkedIn, X and Facebook.

Forward Looking Statements

Statements in this press release may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are subject to the safe harbor created by such sections. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “can,” “will,” “estimates,” and variations of such words and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such “forward-looking statements,” which speak only as of the date made, and advise readers that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks, uncertainties, estimates, and assumptions by us that are difficult to predict. These forward-looking statements may include statements with respect to our belief that Kopin’s see-through off-the-Visor (OTV) approach offers a brighter, more energy-efficient display light transmission while ensuring visual comfort, setting a new standard for soldier acceptance and operational superiority; our belief that our advanced prototypes provide an upgrade paths for next-gen microdisplays like Kopin’s Color MicroLED, AI enabled NeuralDisplay™, and modular HUDs like DayVAS™ (Daytime Visual Augmentation System) and DarkWAVE; our expectation to work toward full integration of our XR HUD solutions with other companies who have body worn computers, networking, and power management components; and our belief that Kopin’s see-through prototypes mark a substantial leap forward from earlier system designs. Various factors, some of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, such forward-looking statements. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by us or on our behalf, are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements that may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, we disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release, except as may otherwise be required by the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are only predictions, subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those discussed. Important factors that could affect performance and cause results to differ materially from management’s expectations are described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors; Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; and other parts of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023, or as updated from time to time by our Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250326133741/en/

For Investor Relations

Kopin Corporation

Richard Sneider, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

Richard_Sneider@kopin.com

508-870-5959

MZ Contact

Brian M. Prenoveau, CFA

MZ Group – MZ North America

KOPN@mzgroup.us

561-489-5315

Lightspeed PR Contact

Grace Halvorsen

Lightspeed PR/M

Kopin@lightspeedpr.com

Source: Kopin Corporation

FAQ

What is the purpose of Kopin's new U.S. Army-funded XR display project?

The project aims to develop see-through extended reality heads-up displays to enhance battlefield situational awareness and provide tactical advantages for warfighters.

What technical challenges does Kopin's OTV technology address for KOPN?

The technology tackles light security, power consumption, eye strain, and latency-induced nausea issues present in existing AR headsets.

What upgrade paths are available for Kopin's XR display prototypes?

The prototypes support upgrades to Color MicroLED, AI-enabled NeuralDisplay™, DayVAS™, and DarkWAVE™ modular HUDs.

How does Kopin's off-the-visor approach improve military operations?

It provides brighter, more energy-efficient display light transmission while ensuring visual comfort, allowing soldiers to maintain focus on the battlefield rather than looking at screens.