Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Defence

MoD pilot AR glasses for staff

Pioneering glasses that use augmented reality (AR) to project real time conversations onto the lens are being trialled by government employees with hearing difficulties.

Image courtesy DE&S

The cutting-edge technology allows users to engage directly in dialogue rather than relying on lip reading or a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter being available.

The three-month pilot is at MoD Abbey Wood, the Bristol-based headquarters of Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), the procurement arm of the MoD.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Initial feedback is that the £900-a-pair glasses, which can also be configured to translate conversations in over 90 different languages, could transform the working lives of employees in the deaf and hearing loss community.

If successful, the aim will be to roll out the availability of glasses across the MoD and potentially other government departments so staff with hearing loss have more options to meet their needs.

Andy Start, DE&S CEO said: “At DE&S we are committed to an inclusive working environment where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential. This pilot will determine if this technology can help staff do their job to the best of their ability.”

Under the £10,000 contract with Canada-based XRAI Glass, eight sets of glasses will be available to book as a priority by members of DE&S’ deaf and hearing loss community.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Members of the Deaf and Impaired Hearing Network at DE&S attended a demonstration event to hear more about the glasses and try them out prior to the pilot which starts today.
 
Engineering Delivery Partner (EDP) commercial manager James Quinton-Prior said: “I’ve been really impressed and see these glasses as a potential game-changer. Giving those in the deaf and hard of hearing community tools like this will allow us to break down barriers and more easily progress our careers.”

Catherine Wrigley, who works in Helicopter Safety Governance, added: “Having the subtitles displayed in my line of sight will help stop the ‘tennis match’ in meetings as I try and find the next speaker. Other available software for subtitles can be very inaccurate and state things like ‘having a pasty’ when in fact it’s ‘having capacity’.”

The pilot will look to gather feedback around how the glasses perform in different scenarios including one-on-one, groups and settings where there is significant background noise.

The pilot’s lead is Chris Chennell, a senior architect in the DE&S Digital delivery team. He said: “As someone who does not struggle with hearing, this project has been an incredible learning experience for me and one that has become very important to me.

“The initial feedback has been really encouraging, and I’m very hopeful this will prove to be a really positive addition for our staff. The next three months will gather more feedback to help us determine the best way to assist our hearing-impaired colleagues, whether it’s through this technology or something else.”

Advertisement
Cranfield University
Babcock sparks apprentice skills with new welding school in Bristol

Defence

Babcock sparks apprentice skills with new welding school in Bristol

6 June 2025

Babcock International Group has launched a new apprenticeship welding school in Bristol, which will fuse traditional welding training with augmented reality, providing a skills boost to the region and UK defence.

Rolls-Royce to provide power for Canadian River-class destroyers

Defence

Rolls-Royce to provide power for Canadian River-class destroyers

6 June 2025

Rolls-Royce has reached agreement on a significant scope of work to support Batch One of the River-class destroyer (RCD) programme for the Royal Canadian Navy.

DE&S appoints Major General Anna-Lee Reilly as DG Core Delivery

Defence

DE&S appoints Major General Anna-Lee Reilly as DG Core Delivery

6 June 2025

Major General Anna-Lee Reilly CB has been announced as the new Director General (DG) Core Delivery for Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S).

Royal Navy and British Army set to increase operational effectiveness

Defence

Royal Navy and British Army set to increase operational effectiveness

5 June 2025

The UK Government is ramping up investment in new and emerging technologies for the British Army and Royal Navy to provide a major boost in lethality and the effectiveness of their military operations around the world, following the Strategic Defence Review.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025
BAE Systems awarded US Navy IFF upgrade contract

Defence

BAE Systems awarded US Navy IFF upgrade contract

5 June 2025

The US Navy has awarded BAE Systems $30 million to refresh the AN/APX-123A(V) Common Transponder (CXP), upgrading the current Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) technology which provides time-critical insights that help prevent friendly fire incidents.

Babcock to support Trafalgar Class submarine defueling

Defence

Babcock to support Trafalgar Class submarine defueling

5 June 2025

Babcock has been awarded a three-year contract to prepare for the first nuclear defueling of a decommissioned Trafalgar Class submarine in over 20 years.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025