US military is banned from Congress to buy new HoloLens glasses for now – Gaming – News

[…]

181k per pair of glasses. Dressing up a soldier is an expensive joke.

It’s not like they buy the standard HoloLens and put standard stuff on it.
As you can already see in the picture, more cameras / sensors have been added. In addition, the software would be developed by the DoD itself, so that Microsoft only has to supply the hardware. The hardware is often adapted to the wishes that are present at that time, so that you also have to adapt the software so that it can become modular.
Remember that multiple streams can be used from the C&C via the HoloLens to recognize things or to keep an overview of what is happening. Or that the soldier receives information on the glasses where the enemy may be. hides. All this takes extra time and therefore extra money to develop.

All defense equipment must not only be heavy duty, but the suppliers must also be certified for it. In addition, developing for defense takes a lot of time, because everything must be built securely (both software and hardware). Just think of Tempest certification and bombproofing hardware. These are extra steps that are only done after the tender, because certification can take quite a long time. After all, you don’t want the enemy to be able to listen in or see what you are doing or planning to do.

It is not the case that as a Defense organization you order the stuff today and have it in next week. Often months pass before you actually have the stuff and only then can you implement the stuff.

Tip!
This way you can go through our own defence also read more about the equipment our soldiers use.