Aware wins sole-source Navy hearing protection contract

Aware Defense has secured a five-year sole-source Program of Record from the U.S. Navy to provide custom hearing protection and Communications Earplugs built from its 3D ear scanning technology. The award expands a program that delivered 6,373 devices during initial funding and aims to scale to 42,000 units across Naval Aviation.

Why it matters: - The contract makes custom hearing protection a formal part of how the U.S. Navy protects Naval Aviation personnel. - The program is designed to reduce preventable hearing loss while supporting clear communications and operational readiness. - The award gives Aware Defense exclusive Navy-wide responsibility for scanning, manufacturing and delivery under the program.

What happened: - The Naval Air Systems Command Aircrew Systems Program Office, PMA-202, awarded Aware Defense a sole-source Program of Record contract. - The award covers advanced custom hearing protection solutions built from Aware's proprietary eFit 3D ear scanning technology. - The five-year contract names Aware Defense as the Navy's exclusive end-to-end source for 3D digital ear scanning, custom hearing protection and Communications Earplugs. - The program serves Naval Aviation aircrew and flight-line maintainers.

The details: - Aware's eFit scanner is a non-contact optical 3D scanning system that uses radial illumination. - The system captures ear canal geometry past the second bend with dimensional accuracy of less than 90 microns. - Under initial program funding, Aware Defense conducted on-site 3D ear scanning events nationwide from September 2025 to July 2026. - The company delivered 6,373 custom-fit devices during that period. - Aware Defense worked with NAVAIR Aeromedical Safety Officers and Navy audiologists to fit service members. - Under PMA-202, Aware plans to scale to 42,000 custom-fit units starting August 1, 2026. - The rollout will take place at Naval Air Stations across the United States and overseas. - Stu Booker, president of Aware Defense, said the team has scanned 700 personnel in five days and placed precision-fit devices in warfighters' ears within 60 days.

Between the lines: - The Navy is moving from pilot execution to larger-scale fielding after an initial period of validation. - The contract favors a fit-to-use model, since custom devices are more likely to be worn consistently than generic gear. - A sole-source award signals the Navy sees Aware's scanning and manufacturing process as a unique capability for this use case. - Hearing loss remains one of the most common and costly injuries across the Department of Defense, which makes prevention a readiness issue as much as a health issue.

What's next: - Aware Defense will expand scanning and device delivery across Naval Aviation sites in the U.S. and overseas. - The company will support large-scale deployment of custom hearing protection and communications devices under the five-year program. - The Navy is expected to continue integrating the devices into routine protection for aviation personnel.

The bottom line: - Aware Defense has turned its 3D ear scanning technology into a Navy Program of Record, giving the company a major role in hearing protection for Naval Aviation.