GPS World

Category: Defense

  • NorthStrive acquires patented GPS-denied autonomous drone navigation tech option

    NorthStrive acquires patented GPS-denied autonomous drone navigation tech option

    Patented software visual-inertial cooperative navigation technology has potential to target defense, counter-drone (C-UAS), electronic warfare, and autonomous unmanned aircraft systems markets

    NorthStrive Defense Tech LLC has secured a license option in connection with a proprietary U.S. patented autonomous navigation technology through an exclusive option agreement with a corporation.

    The technology is designed to enable autonomous positioning and navigation for unmanned aircraft systems and drones operating in GPS-jammed, GPS-spoofed and GPS-denied environments, addressing a core capability gap identified by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and allied defense programs worldwide.

    NorthStrive Defense Tech LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc.

    The option agreement provides NorthStrive Defense Tech with an exclusive option, within the aerospace and defense technologies field, to obtain an exclusive license as to certain patent rights for U.S. Patent No. 12,277,716 B2, covering a cooperative navigation system for unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones, operating in GPS-denied and GPS-degraded environments.

    The option is also for a non-exclusive license in the field as to certain know-how connected to these patent rights, as further set in the option agreement. On NorthStrive Defense Tech’s exercise of this option, the parties will enter into negotiations for a definitive license agreement.

    The technology has the potential to enable drones to navigate accurately without GPS by using onboard cameras and inertial sensors to estimate position relative to the local environment. The approach applies visual-inertial odometry (VIO) and sensor-fusion techniques, including an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) for real-time state estimation and cooperative multi-vehicle data sharing, which together represent foundational building blocks of next-generation autonomous systems.

    When multiple drones operate, they share positional data in real time to collectively improve each vehicle’s accuracy, with performance formally evaluated under real-world GPS-denied conditions.

    GPS-denied navigation has emerged as one of the most urgent challenges in modern drone operations. Conflicts in recent years have demonstrated that GPS signals cannot be relied upon in contested environments, where jamming and spoofing are routinely deployed to disable unmanned systems.

    Vulnerabilities in GNSS signals have made anti-jamming and anti-spoofing capabilities a top priority within U.S. defense modernization programs, the Pentagon, the DoD and allied NATO forces. That operational reality has driven substantial investment across the defense sector, with the GPS-denied drone navigation market projected to grow at a CAGR of 31.7% through 2030, according to Technavio.

    Key potential capabilities include:

    • Vision and inertial-based navigation requiring no GPS signal (visual-inertial odometry / VIO with Extended Kalman Filter (EKF)-based state estimation)
    • Cooperative swarm localization through inter-vehicle range sharing, a foundational capability for drone swarm and counter-drone (C-UAS) operations
    • Scalable architecture supporting operations from individual drones to full swarms, with an architecture positioned for integration with AI-enabled autonomous systems
    • Technology formally evaluated for accuracy and performance under real-world GPS-denied conditions.

    The system’s modular design keeps flight-critical estimation onboard each drone while requiring minimal data exchange between vehicles, making it practical for contested environments where communications bandwidth is limited or actively degraded.

  • Baykar demos swarm UAVs without GNSS

    Baykar demos swarm UAVs without GNSS

    Turkish UAV maker Baykar demonstrated its next-generation Kamikaze UAV K2 and Sivrisinek (Mosquito) loitering munition, showcasing AI-supported swarm autonomy, GNSS-independent navigation, automatic target detection, and strike capabilities during a demonstration held at the Keşan Flight Training and Test Center.

    The K2 Kamikaze UAV and the Sivrisinek loitering munition will make their public debut at SAHA 2026, which takes place in Istanbul May 5-9.

    The April 17 demonstration opened with the sequential takeoffs of five K2 Kamikaze UAVs within five minutes. Once airborne, the platforms conducted patrol flights in “right echelon,” “line,” “V,” and “Turan” formations.

    Ten Sivrisinek loitering munitions — a new platform developed by Baykar — then joined the operation, forming a swarm beneath the K2 Kamikaze UAVs. The Bayraktar TB2, TB3, and AKINCI UCAVs accompanied the swarm flight, recording the operation from the air.


    Credit: Baykar


    AI-supported visual navigation
    Among the key technical highlights of the demonstration were the solutions developed to counter electronic warfare environments. Using AI-supported visual navigation software, the platforms demonstrated the capability to perform positioning and navigation independently of GNSS.

    Having successfully showcased autonomous navigation in a GNSS-denied environment, the K2 and Sivrisinek Kamikaze UAVs also demonstrated AI-supported automatic target detection and automatic strike capabilities.

    As part of the demonstration, a fleet of Sivrisinek loitering munitions executed a dive on the designated coordinates. A K2 Kamikaze UAV then broke off from the swarm and performed a high-speed dive on the designated coordinates, conducting a pass. In the final phase of the demonstration, a swarm group composed of 18 unmanned aerial vehicles across different classes — 5 K2s, 10 Sivrisinek, 1 Bayraktar TB2, 1 TB3, and 1 AKINCI — came together in a “V” formation to salute the delegation observing the flight.

    Developed by Baykar, the next-generation Sivrisinek loitering munition raises operational depth to a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers. Capable of uninterrupted communication within the swarm through AI support, Sivrisinek platforms can instantly share detected targets with one another.

    Performing its missions through AI-based visual positioning even in the most challenging environments — including areas where GNSS signals are unavailable or subject to intensive jamming — Sivrisinek stands out in strategic missions to be conducted on the battlefield thanks to its high autonomy capability.

  • Thales secures military navigation with TopStar Smart Receiver

    Thales secures military navigation with TopStar Smart Receiver

    Thales has launched the TopStar Smart Receiver, a three-in-one ultra-compact solution designed to provide land forces with resilient positioning, navigation and timing capabilities, while maintaining radio communications in increasingly contested electronic warfare environments.

    The TopStar Smart Receiver can be integrated into land vehicles, drones and munitions.

    Key features

    • Dual-constellation GNSS receiver. The receiver integrates signals from military constellations, Galileo PRS and civilian GPS, and provides resistance to spoofing with enhanced accuracy and availability.
    • Anti-jamming function. Its adaptive controlled radiation pattern antenna (CRPA) reduces interference from jammers, and enables operation at distances up to 30 times closer than with a conventional GPS receiver.
    • High-performance clock. The clock ensures synchronization of tactical radios for up to 48 hours following GNSS signal loss, versus 30 minutes with conventional equipment.

    Produced entirely within a sovereign European industrial base, the TopStar Smart Receiver is assembled at Thales’ site in Valence, France. The receiver is now available for testing in real-world conditions.

    “Powered by cutting-edge technologies, the TopStar Smart Receiver delivers resilient, high-performance PNT capabilities for land platforms, drones and munitions,” said  Florent Chauvancy, vice president of avionics and flight activities, Thales. “Innovative, reliable, competitive and compact, it ensures mission continuity in the most demanding operations, showcasing Thales’ expertise and commitment to innovation in support of the armed forces.”

  • US Army awards contracts for mounted PNT NorthStar solution

    US Army awards contracts for mounted PNT NorthStar solution

    Project Manager Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PM PNT) has announced the Army Contracting Command – Aberdeen Proving Ground award of two Other Transaction Authority (OTAs) via a C5 prototyping project for a mounted PNT NorthStar solution to IS4S and GPS Source.

    With an estimated value of up to $41 million and 36-month period of performance, the OTAs enable the selected vendors to develop next generation of mounted Assured PNT capability that’s modular and upgradable for Army 2040 ground-based platforms.

    “We’re excited to move into the next phase of NorthStar with this award,” said Chris Jais, project manager, PM PNT. “We’re confident that with our vendor partners, we’ll introduce an affordable, MOSA-compliant product with next-generation capability into our family of open solutions and continue to bring upgradable and scalable APNT products to soldiers in the field.” 

    PM PNT’s Modernization product office introduced the NorthStar effort in August 2023 via a virtual event and release of an RFI that received 27 vendor responses. These responses informed PM PNT’s decision to solicit industry for the design of tiers of capability that would offer a range of non-radio frequency technologies to outpace the threat of Army 2040; the responses, combined with tech evaluations and review of white papers, also led to the organization deciding to ultimately award a NorthStar OTA to more than one vendor. 

    “Awarding to multiple vendors encourages competition, speeds up implementation and integration of new technology to meet emerging threats, and reduces cost of engineering change proposals,” said Erik Scott, product manager for PNT Modernization. “Prioritizing a modular system design for hardware and software ensures the best value for the government and the best solution for our warfighters.”

    Contract kickoffs with each vendor are scheduled for next month with design review and a soldier touchpoint to follow.

    For more information on PM PNT, visit the PM PNT page on the Capability Program Executive Intelligence and Spectrum Warfare website.

  • India approves indigenous high-altitude rescue UAV for IAF

    India approves indigenous high-altitude rescue UAV for IAF

    The Indian government has approved development of an indigenous, runway-independent combat search-and-rescue UAV for the Indian Air Force.

    The drone will be used to rescue pilots and crew, and deliver supplies in extreme terrains, tasks to be accomplished without risking manned aircraft. For instance, snowbound heights are difficult for helicopters to traverse.

    The UAV will be developed under the government’s Make-I category with 70% funding, and will operate up to 16,000 feet in the air. It will carry payloads up to 400 kg and support autonomous missions within a range of 200 km and a 45-minute loiter time.

  • Rohde & Schwarz enables Xona Pulsar signal simulation for next-generation navigation devices

    Rohde & Schwarz enables Xona Pulsar signal simulation for next-generation navigation devices

    New test capability supports device manufacturers preparing for Xona’s commercial LEO navigation constellation.

    Rohde & Schwarz is providing signal simulation capabilities supporting Pulsar, the next-generation satellite navigation service developed by Xona.

    The new functionality enables manufacturers to test Pulsar capabilities in production settings using Rohde & Schwarz signal generators, providing an accessible pathway for validating and scaling devices with next-generation positioning, navigation and timing (PNT).

    As demand grows for more precise and resilient navigation technology, the industry is preparing for a new generation of satellite signals. Xona’s Pulsar constellation, operating in low Earth orbit (LEO), is designed to complement existing GNSS infrastructure such as GPS by delivering stronger signals, improved accuracy, and enhanced resilience against threats and interference.

    The capability will be available as a new software option for the R&S SMBV100B and R&S SMW200A vector signal generators, allowing engineers and manufacturers to test receiver compatibility with Pulsar signals as the new constellation enters scaled deployment. By adding Pulsar simulation to its test portfolio, Rohde & Schwarz enables device developers and manufacturers to begin validating compatibility with the emerging service.

    “Navigation technology is entering a period of rapid evolution,” said Matt Hammond, North America satellite technology manager, Rohde & Schwarz. “By adding Pulsar signal simulation to our signal generator portfolio, Rohde & Schwarz is preparing our customers for the next evolution of satellite navigation. Our goal is to provide the scalable test infrastructure needed to bring these innovations from development into deployment.”

    “Pulsar is designed to upgrade the global navigation infrastructure while remaining compatible with GNSS devices already in use today,” said Bryan Chan, co-founder and VP of strategy at Xona Space Systems. “Test and measurement solutions play an important role in enabling device manufacturers to evaluate compatibility as new signals become available. Rohde & Schwarz brings deep expertise in precision signal generation that helps make this possible.”

    The R&S SMBV100B and R&S SMW200A vector signal generator will soon join Pulsar’s verified ecosystem program recognizing devices and testing solutions validated for compatibility with Pulsar signals. Rohde & Schwarz will showcase its navigation test solutions at Space Symposium 2026, taking place April 13-16 in Colorado Springs.

  • Lockheed Martin secures $105M contract for GPS IIIF operations

    Lockheed Martin secures $105M contract for GPS IIIF operations

    Lockheed Martin has received a potential $105 million firm-fixed-price task order from the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command to supportGPS IIIF launch and on-orbit testing.

    The award covers services related to the Architecture Evolution Plan (AEP) operational control system. This includes support for launch, early orbit operations and eventual disposal of GPS IIIF satellites (space vehicles SV11-22). The effort is part of ongoing work to sustain and manage next-generation positioning, navigation and timing capabilities for military users.

    Work under the sole-source task order will take place in Colorado Springs, Colorado, through March 2030. The contract is managed by SSC’s satellite communication and PNT office at Peterson Space Force Base. SSC obligated $13.4 million from fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds at the time of award.

    Lockheed Martin’s previous contracts supporting the GPS IIIF program include a nine-year, $1.36 billion contract in 2018 to produce the 11th and 12th GPS IIIF satellites, and a $509.8 million contract modification for GPS IIIF space vehicles 21 and 22 granted in May 2025. SV-21 and SV-22 are expected to be delivered by November 2031.

  • SWF: GNSS interference a key issue for space security

    The Secure World Foundation’s annual report, “Global Counterspace Capabilities: An Open Source Assessment,” is now available.

    The 2026 edition compiles and assesses publicly available information on counterspace capabilities being developed by 13 countries across five categories: co-orbital, direct-ascent, electronic warfare, directed energy and cyber.

    The report discusses jamming against GNSS and other position, navigation and timing (PNT) satellites. It assesses current and near-term future capabilities for each country, along with their potential military utility, and discusses their space situational awareness capabilities.

    Countries covered in this report are: the United States, Russia, China, India, Australia, France, Germany (added this year), Iran, Israel, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, and the United Kingdom.

    Download the report here.

  • Advanced GNSS ionospheric sensor sent into orbit

    Advanced GNSS ionospheric sensor sent into orbit

    The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has successfully launched the GNSS Orbiting Situational Awareness Sensor (GOSAS), one of three advanced experimental payloads.

    GOSAS was aboard the Space Test Program’s (STP) Satellite-7, which launched at 4:33 a.m. PDT on April 7 from VandenbergU.S. Space Force (USSF) Base, California.

    The other payloads are the Lasersheet Anomaly Resolution andDebris Observation (LARADO) instrument and the Gadolinium Aluminum Gallium Garnet (GAGG) Radiation Instrument (GARI-1C).

    GOSAS will improve the reliability of navigation and communication systems for warfighters.

    “The GOSAS is a CubeSat-compatible, programmable dual GPS receiver designed to characterize the orbital GNSS environment and produce high-quality ionospheric space weather products,” said Scott Budzien, PhD, NRL research physicist and GOSAS principal investigator. “Understanding and predicting space weather is critical for ensuring the accuracy of GPS and the integrity of military communications.”

    GOSAS is a follow-on to the NRL experiment GROUP-C (GPS Radio Occultation and Ultraviolet Photometry-Collocated) experiment on the International Space Station that took place 2017-2023 and serendipitously detected GPS ground interference.

    GOSAS originated in 2020 with the mission of increasing GPS accuracy for the warfighter.

  • VIAVI partners with Ground Control to enable assured maritime vessel tracking

    VIAVI partners with Ground Control to enable assured maritime vessel tracking

    VIAVI Solutions is partnering with satellite communications and positioning solutions provider Ground Control to integrate its Secure µPNT STL-1000 into the RockFLEET Assured asset tracking and assured navigation solution.

    Viavi’s Secure µPNT STL-1000 is a compact software-defined receiver designed to operate with the Viavi SecureTime altGNSS LEO services. Delivering precise timing with holdover capability, it enables tracking, authentication and assured navigation in denied, degraded and disrupted space operational environment, also known as D3SOE.

    “With jamming and spoofing now a core element of cyber warfare, resilient PNT solutions are no longer optional,” said Doug Russell, senior vice president and general manager, Aerospace and Defense, Viavi. “The Secure µPNT STL-1000 enables assured, uninterrupted operations, especially in contested environments. Its compact size and low power consumption makes it ideal for applications that require an extremely small, low-power, secure, resilient embedded PNT receiver.”

    “As the frequency of jamming and spoofing continues to rise, reliance on GPS/GNSS signals alone increasingly exposes both commercial and military operations to risk,” said Alastair MacLeod, CEO of Ground Control. “Integrating Viavi’s Secure µPNT STL-1000 into RockFLEET Assured delivers a trusted secondary position source, strengthening resilience for mission‑critical operations across defense, maritime and critical infrastructure environments.”

    RockFLEET Assured is a marine-grade assured position, navigation and timing (A-PNT) solution designed to support maritime vessel navigation and oversight in GNSS-denied environments.

  • VectorNav introduces high-G capability across tactical IMU and GNSS/INS series

    VectorNav introduces high-G capability across tactical IMU and GNSS/INS series

    New 95G and 250G accelerometers and 4000°/sec gyroscope ranges deliver navigation solution integrity in high-dynamic environments, supporting interceptors, missiles and hypersonic platforms.

    VectorNav Technologies has announced 95G and 250G accelerometer and 4000°/sec gyroscope ranges across its Tactical Series inertial measurement unit (IMU) and inertial navigation system (INS) product line.

    The enhancement directly addresses urgent requirements from defense contractors and platform developers operating in high-G mission profiles.

    Defense modernization priorities are accelerating procurements of interceptors, missiles, and hypersonic platforms that must operate through launch, interception, and aggressive maneuvering — often in environments where GPS is denied or degraded. In these conditions, navigation performance depends on the IMU’s ability to maintain solution integrity without saturating.

    The extended-range Tactical Series is designed to meet that requirement, providing the core inertial measurements that enable resilient position, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions to operate through mission-critical flight phases where conventional sensors fail.

    “The demand signal from our customers has been unmistakable,” said Jakub Maslikowski, VP of Business Development. “As platforms become faster, more maneuverable, and face increasingly sophisticated threats, high-performance inertial navigation solutions are needed at scale to meet the evolving demand. With nearly 20 years supporting these mission profiles, we know these applications—and the extended-range gyro and accelerometer will enable faster integration and more rapid fielding of reliable systems.”

    The extended-range accelerometer and gyroscope are available across the full VN-110 IMU and VN-210 / VN-310 INS product family, supporting applications including:

    • high-speed interceptor platforms
    • rapid-response strike systems 
    • hypersonic and advanced maneuvering vehicles
    • counter-UAS and air defense systems
    • next-generation precision guidance

    The extended-range configurations are drop-in compatible with existing platforms — no changes to form, fit or function — enabling immediate upgrades without redesign.

  • Infleqtion launches quantum timing solution with Safran partnership

    Infleqtion launches quantum timing solution with Safran partnership

    Infleqtion has announced availability of its first quantum-enabled precision timing solution delivered as part of the company’s partnership with Safran Electronics & Defense. The new solution includes Infleqtion’s Tiqker quantum optical clock, which has been integrated and validated with Safran’s White Rabbit and SecureSync systems.

    Modern systems, from financial markets to military operations, telecom networks and datacenters, depend on technologies such as GPS or GNSS for precise timing, but these are vulnerable to jamming, spoofing, and natural disruption. As threats to traditional timing infrastructure grow, the need for resilient, independent alternatives has become critical.

    In a recent live demonstration conducted in partnership with Quantum Corridor, the solution integrating Tiqker, White Rabbit and SecureSync system was validated in a real-world environment, demonstrating picosecond accuracy vs. nanosecond GPS accuracy.

    The combined, validated solution delivers enhanced stability and resilience, ensuring continuity of operations for mission-critical systems even in environments where traditional timing signals are challenged or denied.

    The collaboration between Infleqtion and Safran Electronics & Defense makes the validated solution available to customers globally, across allied defense, telecommunications, and critical infrastructure sectors, enabling rapid deployment of precision timing architectures designed to operate even in GNSS-challenged environments.