Kopin Receives $2M Military Display Order Alongside Debut of DayVAS & DarkWAVE HUDs

In Augmented Reality News 

January 16, 2025 – Kopin Corporation, a provider of application-specific optical systems and high-performance microdisplays for defense, training, enterprise, industrial, consumer and medical products, has this week announced that it has been awarded a USD $2 million follow-on production order for its Brillian Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD) microdisplay for rotary and fixed-wing pilot helmet mounted displays (HMDs).

Kopin’s full color Brillian display is used in pilot HMD systems to provide enhanced situational awareness in both day and night flight conditions, according to the company. Through special design and processing techniques, the patented Brillian microdisplays are able to provide for applications that demand exceptional high brightness. Kopin noted that its full-color Brillian displays exhibit brightness levels greater than 34,000 nits and contrast ratios above 500:1. 

As a result, the company’s full-color Brillian displays offer pilots enhanced visual recognition of critical data and information needed to complete missions. Kopin added that the advanced, see-through, high-definition, digital HMDs are used on a number of fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms including F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 fighter jets and CH47F and UH-60 helicopters.

“The follow-on purchase order is part of an ongoing multi-year program effort and highlights Kopin’s success in producing highly complex microdisplays for mission-critical applications,” stated Bill Maffucci, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at Kopin. “Our displays and application specific eyepieces are used in a wide range of demanding applications including pilot helmets, armored vehicle targeting systems, and soldier centric thermal weapon systems.”

In addition to announcing the USD $2 million follow-on order this week, Kopin also announced that the DayVAS (Daytime Visual Augmentation System) and DarkWAVE solutions that it developed in collaboration with Wilcox Industries will be demonstrated for the first time publicly at SHOT Show 2025 in Las Vegas later this month.

DayVAS is a daytime readable see-through heads-up display (HUD) module and is used with Wilcox’ FUSION CLAW head borne information system — an advanced modular technology platform that seamlessly integrates night vision, communications equipment, multi-spectral identification friend-or-foe, AI-informed power prioritization, multi-spectral forward illumination, mission recording, and a Day/Night Heads-Up Display.

DarkWave is designed to replace monochrome green only augmented reality (AR) symbology and low resolution thermal overlay images in night vision goggles with full color symbology at a higher resolution than currently available clip-on thermal imagers.

Kopin noted that its “pivotal” role in DayVAS and DarkWAVE involves the development and production of look-through mixed reality (MR) accessories, which help to enhance warfighter situational awareness with state-of-the-art Day and Night HUDs. With geospatial AR software integration, users also have the capability to select menu items at a glance, watch drone feeds, navigation cueing and communicate via text over a real world scene.

For more information about Kopin and its heads up display technology, please visit the company’s website.

Image credit: Kopin Corporation / Wilcox Industries

About the author

Sam Sprigg

Sam is the Founder and Managing Editor of Auganix. With a background in research and report writing, he has been covering XR industry news for the past seven years.