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Aware Defense Awarded Sole-Source US Navy Contract for Custom Hearing Protection Scaled to 42,000 Units

A dispatch from Hearing Review — filed

Technician using a handheld 3D ear scanner on a soldier in camouflage uniform at a military trade show display.
✦ PlateTechnician using a handheld 3D ear scanner on a soldier in camouflage uniform at a military trade show display.

The Naval Air Systems Command’s Aircrew Systems Program Office selected Aware Defense as its exclusive end-to-end provider of 3D-scanned, custom-fit hearing protection and communications earplugs for Naval Aviation personnel. Aware Defense , a division of Aware Custom Biometric Wearables (Aware CBW), has been awarded a sole-source Program of Record contract by the Naval Air Systems Command’s Aircrew Systems Program...

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✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

Clinical Takeaway

No actionable change for civilian audiology practice; this is a military procurement contract with no direct clinical guidance implications.

Why It Matters

A large-scale military adoption of 3D-scanned custom hearing protection signals growing institutional confidence in digital ear-scanning technology, which may accelerate broader acceptance and infrastructure for custom-fit solutions across audiology.

Key Points
  1. 01US Navy Naval Air Systems Command awarded Aware Defense a sole-source contract for custom hearing protection.
  2. 02The contract covers 3D-scanned, custom-fit earplugs with integrated communications capability.
  3. 03Scale is significant: up to 42,000 units for Naval Aviation personnel.
  4. 04Sole-source designation means no competitive bidding — Navy selected Aware Defense exclusively.
  5. 05Deal highlights military interest in individualized hearing protection over generic solutions.
Claims & Evidence

Aware Defense's earplugs are custom-fit using 3D scanning technology.

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The contract is scaled to 42,000 units for Naval Aviation personnel.

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The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis by Naval Air Systems Command.

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