Kopin Corporation has secured a $3.2-million initial contract to supply optical modules for a next-generation first-person view (FPV) drone goggle system, marking its entry into a rapidly expanding market.
The deal, the company’s first in the drone market, supports the development of a new FPV headset program with potential deliveries of up to 40,000 units by 2028 to an unnamed partner. FPV systems allow operators to control drones through real-time video feeds.
At the center of the order is Kopin’s Sentinel FPV module, a monocular or binocular system built around high-performance OLED microdisplays. Designed for tactical use, the system prioritizes lightweight construction and ruggedized optics for field deployment.
Unlike conventional FPV goggles that fully block the user’s field of vision, Sentinel aims to preserve peripheral awareness while streaming high-definition drone imagery. Kopin describes this capability as “Dual Situational Awareness.”
“Our goal is to ensure that warfighters have access to the most advanced, intuitive, and safe FPV technology available,” Director of Warfighter Vision at Kopin, Nic Peterson, said.
FPV Drones Expand Across Military Programs
FPV systems have moved rapidly from commercial drone racing into military experimentation and procurement programs over the past two years.
Ukrainian forces have vastly expanded operational use of FPV drone systems for reconnaissance and strike missions. In November 2025, Ukraine delivered its first 100,000 FPV drones to frontline units under the DOT-Chain Defence procurement system.
The platform lets forces choose directly from a catalogue of over 180 FPV drone models produced by 40 domestic manufacturers.
Meanwhile, in April, the Australian Army expanded its training program to integrate FPV attack drones across its units. Personnel from combat and support units are being trained to build, modify, and fly drones, expanding on an earlier program focused on multi-role reconnaissance drones and payload deployment.
