# Navy Awards Naval Aviation Hearing Protection Contract

Aware Defense received a five-year, sole-source U.S. Navy Program of Record contract to provide custom-fit hearing protection and Communications Earplugs for Naval Aviation personnel. The program was scheduled to scale delivery to 42,000 units beginning August 1, 2026; as of October 8, 2026, that planned start date has passed, but the signal does not confirm delivery progress. The Navy disclosed no contract value or solicitation number, and the sole-source award is not an open competition.

- The contract covers digital ear scanning, custom manufacturing, and delivery. Its five-year term and planned unit volume are relevant benchmarks for suppliers of hearing protection, scanning, and related manufacturing capabilities.
- Companies should not treat this award as an active bid opportunity. Firms assessing future Naval Aviation work can use the stated delivery scale and program scope to evaluate their own capacity and offerings.
- The signal identifies the U.S. Navy, Naval Air Systems Command, and the Aircrew Systems Program Office as relevant government entities; it provides no contract value, solicitation number, or procurement contact.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military
**Published:** October 07, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Navy (USN)
- Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
- Aircrew Systems Program Office (PMA-202)

### Vendors
- Aware Defense (Awardee)
- Aware Custom Biometric Wearables (Parent company)

### Key Quotes
> Hearing loss is one of the most common service-connected disabilities, and it is preventable. Because every ear is different, our eFit scanner and advanced additive manufacturing deliver precision-built protection and communications for mission-critical environments, custom fit at scale. This award reflects the U.S. Navy’s commitment to preventing hearing loss and sets a new standard for protecting the warfighter.
> — Sam Kellett, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Aware

> We are proud to continue our partnership with the Navy to accelerate the fielding of advanced hearing protection. We know that gear that fits gets worn, and every ear scan and custom-fit device advances our mission to protect warfighters and preserve long-term hearing health. Our team has proven its ability to seamlessly scan 700 personnel in five days and have precision-fit devices in the warfighters’ ears within 60 days, enabling rapid program expansion across Naval Aviation.
> — Stu Booker, President of Aware Defense

### Sources
- [Aware Defense Secures Five-Year U.S. Navy Contract for 3D-Scanned Custom Hearing Protection https://t.co/Sj3AgYUSx6](https://x.com/WeekinHearing/status/2107900514499518833) - twitter-defense