Field Briefing: Army's $2B IVAS Failure, F/A-18 Crash, and A-10s Return to England

Three stories out of Washington this week tell a connected story about the gap between what the military wants to field and what actually works in soldiers' hands. From a billion-dollar augmented-reality headset program canceled after soldiers reported neck strains and headaches, to a Marine F/A-18 going down near Mount Rainier, to A-10 Warthogs returning to England with fresh nose art from operations over Iran — here's what matters from the last seven days.

Army Shelves $1.8B IVAS Headset Program After Soldiers Won't Wear It

The U.S. Army has quietly moved 10,000 Integrated Visual Augmentation System headsets into storage rather than field them. The Government Accountability Office highlighted the program in a report released this week as a case study in defense acquisition failure. The service spent approximately $1.8 billion developing the Microsoft-built augmented-reality system since 2018, only to find that soldiers wouldn't use it.

Soldiers who tested early iterations of the headset during training and operational demonstrations reported eye strain, neck pain, motion sickness, and disorientation. Pentagon testing in 2022 found soldiers using IVAS hit fewer targets and engaged them more slowly than with their standard equipment. A Department of Defense inspector general report from the same year warned the program lacked defined minimum user acceptance thresholds — and that nearly $22 billion in taxpayer funds could be wasted fielding a system soldiers wouldn't want to use.

The Army has pivoted to a new program called Soldier Borne Mission Command, with Anduril selected in September 2025 to develop a prototype. The company's competing EagleEye headset redesigns the form factor by moving the battery to a ballistic chest plate — directly addressing the neck-load complaint that killed IVAS. The GAO noted that despite the IVAS failure, the Pentagon's acquisition process continues to move too slowly compared to the pace at which emerging technology evolves.

Source: Task & Purpose

Marine F/A-18 Crashes Near Mount Rainier, Pilot Ejects Safely

A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed near Mount Rainier in Washington State on Saturday afternoon, sparking a wildfire that required multiple helicopters to suppress. The pilot, from Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, ejected safely and was recovered by local sheriff's deputies before being transported to a local hospital. The Naches Fire Department responded to the blaze and evacuated campers from the area.

The crash occurred during routine training, according to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. The cause is under investigation. This is not the first aviation mishap near Mount Rainier in recent years — in October 2024, a Navy EA-18G Growler crashed in the same area during a training mission, killing its two crew members.

Source: Task & Purpose

A-10 Warthogs Return to England with Nose Art from Operation Epic Fury

Eleven A-10C Thunderbolt II attack jets from the 75th Fighter Squadron landed at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom on Friday, bearing colorful nose art and mission markings from recent operations against Iranian targets. The aircraft transited through Aviano Air Base in Italy from Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Photos published by The War Zone show the Warthogs carrying mission marks representing Small Diameter Bombs, GBU-12 Paveways, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, laser-guided APKWS rockets, and AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface munitions. One aircraft bears an F-15E tail marking and the words "So others may live" — likely referencing the May rescue operation in which A-10s acted as low-altitude escort for a package sent to recover two F-15E crewmembers whose Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran. At least one A-10 was struck by Iranian fire during that operation and crashed; the pilot survived.

The nose art tradition has returned to USAF aircraft after years of restrictions, with designs homaging Nintendo characters including Ridley, Diddy Kong, King Dedede, Samus Aran, and Little Mac alongside non-gaming references like Macho Man and Doc Holliday. The deployment underscores the A-10's continued operational relevance despite perennial congressional debate over its retirement.

Source: The War Zone

US Troops Deploy to Kenya for Ebola Isolation Facility Support

U.S. Africa Command deployed a forward coordinating element to Lakipia Air Base in Kenya this week to help establish a temporary Ebola isolation unit for American civilians. The deployment includes medical planners, communications personnel, and security coordinators — though troops will not provide frontline medical care.

The facility construction and operations are being led by the State Department, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control. The deployment has sparked ongoing protests in Kenya, with multiple people killed by police during demonstrations against the planned facility.

Source: Task & Purpose

Quantum Systems and Airbus Partner on Counter-UAS Helicopter Integration

Quantum Systems and Airbus Helicopters signed a cooperation agreement at ILA Berlin 2026 to explore integration of Quantum's counter-UAS interceptors onto Airbus military helicopter platforms. The agreement is aimed at strengthening European sovereign defense capabilities against emerging airborne threats.

The strategic cooperation combines Airbus Helicopters' military platforms with Quantum Systems' counter-UAS technologies. The deal was announced as European nations accelerate investments in layered air defense architectures following shifts in the continental security landscape.

Source: Soldier Systems Daily

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Sources: Task & Purpose, The War Zone, Soldier Systems Daily