Boston-based wearable technology company WHOOP has been awarded a contract by MIT Lincoln Laboratory, under sponsorship from the U.S. Navy, to integrate its wearable platform into the Command Readiness, Endurance and Watchstanding (CREW) program. The initiative focuses on evaluating crew readiness and reducing fatigue-related risk across naval operations.
WHOOP’s device, which features a 14-day battery life, tracks a range of physiological metrics including sleep, activity, and heart health. Additional capabilities include its Blood Pressure Insights (BPI) feature, offering systolic and diastolic estimates, alongside blood biomarker analysis, ECG functionality, and longevity tracking tools.
Under the agreement, WHOOP will collaborate with MIT Lincoln Laboratory to embed its wearable system into the CREW framework, enabling continuous monitoring of personnel fatigue, readiness, and performance metrics. The company emphasized strict data governance protocols, stating, "This integration is limited exclusively to designated personnel and does not access or utilize data from the broader WHOOP membership base. In all cases, individuals are clearly informed about what data is being shared and must provide explicit acknowledgment before any data is used."
The contract follows a prolonged and high-profile procurement dispute between WHOOP and Oura. The Department of Defense had previously awarded Oura a contract valued at approximately $96 million to supply wearable rings and analytics services. WHOOP challenged the decision through multiple protests, arguing that the requirement for a ring-based device restricted competition.
"We regret that DHA leadership has decided, for no discernibly valid reason, to effectively sole-source this requirement to a foreign company," a WHOOP spokesperson told Breaking Defense. "In this case, the agency’s 'ring-based form factor' requirement is unnecessarily restrictive, excluding companies constituting more than 97% of the current commercial market. We hope that DHA leadership reconsiders its approach and allows innovative American companies like WHOOP to compete."
The dispute contributed to the cancellation of the Oura contract, although Oura continues to maintain broader collaborations with the Department of Defense, including ongoing deployments and infrastructure investments.
Separately, WHOOP has continued its growth trajectory, raising $575 million in Series G funding in March 2026, reaching a valuation of $10.1 billion. The company also remains engaged in an ongoing regulatory discussion with the FDA regarding its Blood Pressure Insights feature, which regulators have indicated may qualify as a medical device.
Click here for the original news story.
