Category: GNSS

Nowcasting the ionosphere: Evaluating GloTEC for real-time GNSS corrections
One of the most persistent sources of GNSS error — ionospheric delay — has been challenging to correct in real time, especially for mass-market devices. While dual-frequency receivers and commercial correction services can mostly mitigate this issue, they remain too costly and impractical for the billions of smartphones and IoT devices that rely on single-frequency GNSS. Even for dual-frequency systems, the commonly used ionosphere-free linear combination amplifies multipath and receiver errors and reduces data redundancy — yielding only two usable combinations from four original measurements.

This landscape may be shifting with the introduction of GloTEC, a real-time global Total Electron Content (TEC) map from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), released in February 2025. GloTEC assimilates both ground- and space-based observations to provide real-time global ionospheric corrections without relying on error-prone linear combinations.

Unlike coarse models such as the broadcast Klobuchar algorithm or forecast-only products such as the predicted IGS Global Ionosphere Maps, GloTEC updates every 10 minutes using real-time measurements. This high refresh rate establishes a new benchmark for open-access ionospheric nowcasting in GNSS applications.

Originally designed to monitor and mitigate space weather impacts on aviation and communications, GloTEC may also deliver a broader benefit: enabling precise, scalable GNSS corrections for low-cost, single-frequency devices, making high-accuracy positioning more accessible and democratic.

Why Nowcasting Matters for GNSS

The GNSS community has long had to choose between accuracy and latency. Predictive models, such as those from NASA CEDIS or CODETEC, can offer reasonable approximations but may fall short when real-time corrections are required, particularly in the context of navigation, asset tracking or autonomous systems.

Post-processed products (such as rapid/final IGS GIMs) provide excellent fidelity but are typically delayed by hours, days, or even weeks. This makes them useful for research or auditing, but not for real-time navigation needs.

Commercial correction services, such as Trimble RTX and Hexagon’s TerraStar, have filled the gap for high-value applications. These systems interpolate ionospheric corrections in real time, but at a significant cost and they typically require specialized GNSS receivers.

GloTEC bridges this gap by delivering a publicly accessible, high-refresh ionospheric product that can support near real-time corrections. Updated every 10 minutes with a 2.5° latitude and 5° longitude spatial resolution, GloTEC represents a major step forward for public sector GNSS capability, particularly in contexts where accuracy, reliability and scale are all crucial. The data has also been supporting the United States Space Force and is accessible through their Unified Data Library (UDL).

Technical Approach: Adapting GloTEC for Practical Use

While the potential of GloTEC is exciting, turning it into usable corrections for consumer-grade devices isn’t straightforward. TEC maps represent volumetric electron density, while most mass-market GNSS chipsets, especially in smartphones, expect simplified models, such as the eight-parameter Klobuchar model broadcast by GPS satellites. GloTEC is a three-dimensional data assimilation system that uses a Gauss-Markov Kalman Filter to estimate electron density in the ionosphere. It ingests slant TEC measurements from ground-based GNSS receivers and space-based radio occultation data, using the IRI-2016 model as its background state.

To bridge this mismatch, Zephr’s team has been exploring regional fitting techniques, whereby a local subset of GloTEC data is used to generate custom Klobuchar coefficients. These can be transmitted to devices via standardized protocols, such as the LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP), enabling improved ionospheric delay estimation with minimal changes to device-side computation. Even with a regionalized Klobuchar fit and LPP encoding, there is still the problem of accessing the GNSS chip to apply the corrections. To solve this problem, Zephr has created a virtualized positioning engine that takes the raw GNSS measurements from the chip and provides a purely software-based solver. This approach allows the team to implement a variety of more advanced positioning techniques using commodity hardware such as smartphones.

Field Testing: A Quantitative Step Forward

To evaluate the efficacy of GloTEC in improving GNSS accuracy, engineers at Zephr used the virtualized positioning engine to conduct 51 real-world campaigns across various conditions – including urban, suburban, static, walking, and driving – using a Pixel 8 smartphone and an RTK unit for ground truth.

The results were promising, as shown in Figure 1:

Figure 1: GloTEC vs. CODETEC vs. Android Native across multiple scenarios. (All figures provided by author)

We can break down these results using detailed graphs for each scenario as examples. This will provide a more in-depth look at the positioning for specific traces through the outlined scenarios in Figure 2, Figure 3 and Figure 4:

Figure 2: GloTEC vs. CODETEC vs. Android Native for an open sky walking scenario

Figure 3: GloTEC vs. CODETEC vs. Android Native for a suburban downtown walking scenario.

Figure 4: GloTEC vs. CODETEC vs. Android Native for a mixed sky driving test.

Across all categories, the GloTEC-based regional fitting approach significantly outperformed both the default GNSS solution (which uses broadcast data plus a Klobuchar mode) and the competing IGS products. Accuracy improved by up to 69% in driving scenarios and 46% in walking scenarios, compared to standard smartphone GPS.

While the Pixel 8 used in testing supports dual-frequency GNSS, smartphones face several practical limitations that hinder effective use of ionosphere-free dual-frequency combinations. These include limited signal availability (due to antenna constraints, L1/L5 support gaps, and partial constellation coverage), elevated multipath and noise (especially from omnidirectional antennas in dynamic conditions), and unstable clock biases that complicate error modeling. In fact, iono-free combinations can amplify multipath effects, potentially degrading accuracy in some conditions.

Despite these constraints, the results show that meaningful improvements in positioning are possible using a software-based approach with publicly available corrections. GloTEC, when paired with cooperative or cloud-based GNSS engines, offers a substantial step forward without requiring expensive commercial correction services or specialized hardware.

Broader Implications and Next Steps

While these results are promising, several challenges remain before GloTEC-based corrections can be broadly deployed:
- Connectivity Requirements: Real-time access to GloTEC requires periodic downloads over cellular or Wi-Fi connections, raising questions about reliability in low-bandwidth or disconnected environments.
- Global Calibration: The accuracy of regional fitting depends on local coverage density and VTEC variability. Further tuning may be needed in equatorial or polar regions, where ionospheric behavior is more volatile.
Nevertheless, the availability of GloTEC marks a significant milestone. For the first time, a free, real-time, high-resolution ionospheric correction product is accessible to developers, researchers, and engineers seeking to improve GNSS accuracy at scale. NOAA SWPC has plans to integrate more low-latency space-based and ground-based data into GloTEC in the near future. The new version of the model outputs will be released to the public once the results are validated. As techniques for applying it to mobile and IoT devices mature, the GNSS community may see a broad shift toward more precise, resilient, and cost-effective positioning systems.

GloTEC may have been designed to help forecasters monitor the response of the ionosphere due to space weather events, but its potential to provide an advanced tool for positioning on Earth is just beginning to be understood. In a world where nearly every mobile application depends on location, and where the cost of poor accuracy is rising (from package delivery failures to navigation errors), this kind of public infrastructure is invaluable.

Researchers and industry developers alike should explore how this NOAA capability can be integrated into their positioning systems. If properly supported, GloTEC could become one of the most impactful GNSS innovations of the decade.
July 14, 2025
ESA and Neuraspace work to minimize signal noise through GNSS advances
Neuraspace is working with the European Space Agency (ESA) to use innovative GNSS technologies to minimize signal noise under a new NAVISP project. Neuraspace is an expert in space domain awareness (SDA) solutions,

“Stop Getting Noise – Automated GNSS Processing for Smarter Orbits” (NAVISP Element 2) seeks to address critical operational challenges faced by commercial satellite operators, launch service providers and defense and government agencies.

Challenges to be addressed include the urgent need for more scalable, accurate and autonomous orbit determination, particularly for satellite mega-constellations, in an increasingly congested space environment. While defense and government agencies demand high-confidence SDA solutions amid increasing geopolitical tensions, satellite operators require reliable orbit tracking and early mission support.

The result is expected to use innovative GNSS technologies to reduce the risk of satellite collisions and enable satellite operators to make faster and more accurate decisions about safekeeping their assets. Solutions will also lead to more efficient operations with lesser reliance on ground infrastructure and smarter fuel management translating into lower mission costs.

In particular, the project includes:
- GNSS Data Cleanup to remove biases and noise to improve the precision of orbit determination.
- GNSS Orbital Phase Correction by introducing lightweight onboard algorithms designed to run on resource-constrained satellite systems. The algorithms will use real-time data to enable satellites to autonomously correct trajectory predictions and minimize reliance on ground stations, saving time and resources.
- GNSS Orbit Determination Accuracy to provide better orbit predictions by developing advanced methodologies to deliver critical positioning information for safe operations and maneuver planning.
July 9, 2025
When GPS is under attack, we need back-ups

On June 13, following reports of Israeli airstrikes on Iran, interference rates in the Strait of Hormuz spiked. GPSJam.org, a service that tracks satellite signal interference, now reports medium-level disruption (between 2% and 10%) across the Gulf region. This is no isolated blip, but part of a pattern: electronic warfare is increasing in global hotspots. It’s also a warning.

Modern warfare is no longer about guns and bombs. Jamming, spoofing and using ever-more sophisticated cybertricks to disrupt GNSS are now regular tactics used to sow disorder. They are cheap, deniable, and often highly effective. But they also expose a dangerous weakness in how we navigate, communicate, and coordinate. If GPS is the backbone of global positioning, we are learning just how brittle it can be.

Strait of Hormuz Under Threat

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil passes, and here, ships are now at risk not only from pirates and mines, but from corrupted satellite signals. Spoofers can broadcast false GPS positions to nearby vessels. In recent years, we have seen ships appear to sail across runways, airports, and deserts, thanks to malicious signal interference. In aviation, spoofed or jammed GNSS signals have led to aircraft turning around mid-air or being diverted. These are real and growing threats.

As someone who has worked in naval intelligence and the defense industry for decades, I have seen how quickly technology evolves, and how slow we can be to protect our own systems. But there are solutions to the problem I’ve described. One is laser-based optical communications.

The Need for Resilient PNT

Laser communication is very difficult to jam or spoof. Unlike the low-power radio frequencies used by GPS, a laser beam is narrow, focused, and nearly impossible to intercept without being detected. And because lasercom is optical, not radio, it isn’t vulnerable to the same types of interference. That makes laser communication ideal for high-security communications and low latency support in contested environments.

Optical ground station networks, when paired with optical satellite links, also offer vastly higher data transfer capacity than conventional RF systems. Optical links can now carry 1,000 times more data than their RF counterparts. At a time when threats are growing quickly and data needs are exploding, that kind of capacity is essential.

This will make you wonder why lasercom isn’t more widely used. The answer is that only in recent years has it become mature and able to be deployed rapidly. Systems that once seemed exotic or experimental are now proven, reliable, and ready to scale. Many space agencies and defense organizations, including the US Department of Defense and NATO, are investing in them.

To be clear, optical comms will not replace GPS or radio. But they can supplement and support it, especially in high-risk areas where GNSS is under attack. Just as militaries don’t rely on one radar or one radio channel, governments shouldn’t rely on a single source of truth for navigation and timing.

Escalating Threats to Critical Infrastructure

When you depend on precise location data for everything from logistics to drone strikes to the safe passage of oil tankers, the idea that one bad actor with a spoofer can throw you off course is a real concern. When the threat can be made a reality without firing a shot, you can be sure it will be used more and more often.

Just as satellites offer a way to monitor subsea cable sabotage, they also offer a chance to future-proof our navigation and communication networks. The same technology that is being used to track ships and sense underwater disruptions can be adapted to create robust, high-speed, interference-proof backup channels. Governments that invest in this infrastructure now will be in a far stronger position to deter attacks, respond quickly, and maintain operational clarity when others cannot. We wish it were otherwise, but the world is becoming more dangerous, and attacks will accordingly become more common.

If the last year has taught us anything, it’s that infrastructure is no longer neutral. It’s considered a legitimate target, particularly by those whose aim is to create confusion and disorder. GNSS isn’t immune to this trend. In fact, because of it’s importance, it’s a prime target. We have to stop assuming that what worked in peacetime will work at a time of conflict. That, sadly, is the reality of this moment.

July 8, 2025
Europe launches PNT/GNSS info portal

A new information portal for PNT and GNSS is now active. The European GNSS Center of Excellence (GNSS-COE) is designed to provide expertise to help development of critical PNT and GNSS applications.

“We support the development of applications both in the design definition phase, as well in the validation phase of these applications,” according to the site. Among the offerings are masterclasses, resilience assessment, mitigation methods, and a newsfeed.

The portal, a National GNSS Knowledge Center project, was funded under the European Space Agency’s NAVISP Element 3, which supports member states’ PNT initiatives and national strategies.

July 7, 2025
Seen & Heard: Mapping electronic warfare, Türkiye’s satellite system and quantum GPS backup

“Seen & Heard” is a monthly feature of GPS World magazine, traveling the world to capture interesting and unusual news stories involving the GNSS/PNT industry.

West Point Cadets Map Electronic Warfare
West Point cadets conducted a senior thesis project investigating the use of GNSS technology to map and visualize electronic warfare activities in the South Pacific, specifically focusing on GNSS spoofing. Their research, centered on the Huangpu River and Northeastern Shanghai, aimed to identify patterns of malicious GNSS interference and potential perpetrators, highlighting the strategic and economic motivations behind these actions in the region. By developing data visualizations of spoofing incidents, the cadets created a model that could be scaled up to analyze larger areas.

Credit: Eric S. Bartelt / USMA PAO-VI

South Africa Rising Above Water
Researchers from the University of Bonn have found that South Africa’s land is rising by up to 2 mm per year, not because of deep mantle activity, but due to water loss from severe droughts. This uplift was detected using the TrigNet network of GNSS stations, which precisely measures changes in land elevation. As groundwater is depleted, the Earth’s crust rebounds upward — a process GNSS stations can monitor in real time.

Credit: THEGIFT777 / E+ / Getty Images

Türkiye to Launch Homegrown Satellite Navigation and Mapping System
Türkiye is developing the Regional Positioning and Timing System (BKZS) to launch its own GPS and mapping application, in an effort to reduce dependence on foreign technology and enhance cybersecurity amid growing industrial automation. The system will provide precise location, navigation and timing data via Turkish satellites as an alternative to global systems including GPS, supporting critical sectors such as military operations, civilian communications, smart transportation, and precision agriculture.

Credit: Tippapatt / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Quantum Navigation System Serves as GPS Backup
Q-CTRL, a quantum infrastructure software company based in Sydney, Australia, has demonstrated a new quantum navigation system, Ironstone Opal, as a backup to GPS technology. The Ironstone Opal system uses quantum sensors to detect variations in the Earth’s magnetic field, determining precise geographic coordinates with the help of artificial intelligence-based software. Ironstone Opal is passive and does not emit signals, making it resistant to detection and jamming. Field trials showed the system outperformed a high-end inertial navigation system and served as a reliable GPS backup by up to 50 times in ground vehicles and 11 times in aircraft.

Photo: Oundum / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

July 7, 2025
Xona satellite begins tests for commercial LEO navigation
Xona Space Systems’ Pulsar-0 satellite, the company’s first production-class asset for a commercial navigation constellation, is now operational and undergoing in-orbit testing. Launched in March 2024 on SpaceX’s Transporter-10 mission, Pulsar-0 is designed to assess the performance of Xona’s Pulsar architecture, which aims to provide high-accuracy, resilient positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services from low-Earth orbit (LEO).

According to Xona, Pulsar-0 is transmitting LEO-based PNT signals using a payload built to support signal authentication and increased resilience against interference — capabilities that have become more important as concerns about vulnerabilities in traditional GNSS systems grow. The system’s encrypted and authenticated signals are intended to mitigate risks from jamming and spoofing, and deliver stronger, more reliable service in environments where legacy GPS may be degraded.

Xona’s Pulsar constellation is being developed as a commercial complement to GNSS, offering centimeter-level accuracy and greater resistance to interference through modernized signal design and LEO deployment. The company reports that its initial signal waveforms are already being used by select government and commercial partners for prototyping and validation.

Pulsar-0’s technical objectives include:
- High-precision GNSS corrections: Real-time correction data from LEO, targeting position accuracy within 10 cm.
- Signal authentication: Cryptographically verifiable signals to reduce the risk of spoofing.
- Jamming resistance: A signal strength up to 100 times greater than GPS, enhancing reliability in contested or congested radio frequency environments.
- Stronger signals: Stronger signals designed to perform in obstructed locations, such as indoors or in dense urban areas.
The Pulsar-0 mission is primarily focused on validating Xona’s core technology and enabling live sky testing with early partners, paving the way for future launches and eventual commercial operations. The company aims to launch a constellation of hundreds of satellites to provide persistent, redundant PNT coverage for sectors including defense, logistics, mining and autonomous systems.

Further details on Pulsar-0’s performance are expected as data collection and testing continue throughout the year.
July 7, 2025
Electronic warfare takes center stage with GNSS spoofing by Israel

News outlet MSN has published a slideshow detailing seven take-aways from recent GNSS spoofing defense moves against Iranian missiles headed toward Israel. The missiles instead ended up in the Mediterranean Sea, apparently because of successful electronic hacking.

“The incident has caused tremors within the defense and cyber-defense communities, pointing to the mounting sophistication of electronic warfare and the weakness inherent in contemporary navigation systems,” the report states.

The event is being studied as a sophisticated method that “deceived” the missile’s guidance, making it continue on a reasonable course while deviating it from its targeted direction, an advance in electronic warfare that requires knowledge of the missile’s flight algorithms.

“Spoofing detection is much more difficult than jamming, since spoofed signals are made to mimic legitimate signals. Sophisticated detection techniques, like those employing pseudorange difference and sum sequence linearity, are being researched to separate genuine from spoofed GNSS signals. These detection techniques examine the consistency and conduct of signal measures, searching for minute discrepancies that indicate spoofing efforts.”

Spoofing is also affecting civilian sectors, such as when cargo ships collided in the Strait of Hormuz. The International Air Transport Association and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency have published a comprehensive plan to mitigate risks stemming from GNSS interference. The plan was part of the conclusions from a jointly hosted workshop on the topic of GNSS interference.

Agencies also are seeking reliable countermeasures as well as complementary PNT such as magnetic navigation.

See the MSN slideshow here.

July 1, 2025
BKZS: Türkiye’s regional GNSS system takes shape

Türkiye is laying the groundwork for its own satellite navigation system, the Bölgesel Konumlama ve Zamanlama Sistemi (BKZS), or Regional Positioning and Timing System. As a key pillar of Türkiye’s 2030 Industry and Technology Strategy, BKZS reflects the country’s ambition to gain strategic autonomy in satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT), moving away from dependence on foreign systems such as GPS.

Strategic imperatives and security concerns

BKZS was established as one of the ten flagship goals of Türkiye’s National Space Program, introduced in 2021. It directly addresses growing national security concerns: in times of geopolitical conflict, GNSS signals can be jammed or disabled — leaving nations vulnerable if reliant on foreign services. President Erdoğan’s 2030 roadmap emphasizes preparing for “a new era of challenges,” where technological independence is seen as vital to national sovereignty.

Building the foundation: Atomic clocks and CubeSats

At the core of BKZS development is innovative timing technology. The TUBITAK National Metrology Institute has designed Türkiye’s first domestically produced rubidium-based atomic clock for use in positioning satellites. Developed in collaboration with the Turkish Space Agency, the prototype is undergoing qualification testing. Considering that atomic clocks are among the most expensive and sensitive components of a GNSS system, their in-house development not only reduces reliance on foreign suppliers but also delivers significant cost savings and strengthens national expertise. The strategic plan involves an initial technology demonstration phase using a 6U CubeSat, a miniaturized satellite based on the CubeSat standard. This satellite — currently in production — will test the atomic clock in orbit and gather critical performance data, helping to validate system components and gain operational experience ahead of full deployment.

Regional scope with global ambitions

BKZS is being designed as a regional system focused on Türkiye and its surrounding geography. Preliminary architecture envisions an eight-satellite constellation with an estimated cost of $2.8 billion. While this figure underscores the program’s scale, it also reflects the strategic priority attached to securing sovereign PNT capabilities. Military users stand to gain the most immediate benefits, with access to secure, independent timing and positioning data. However, the system is also intended for broad civilian use, including smart transportation systems, precision agriculture, emergency response and disaster management.

Integrated into a broader space strategy

BKZS is not being developed in isolation. It is part of Türkiye’s wider National Space Program, which includes lunar exploration and autonomous launch capabilities. The Turkish Space Agency oversees coordination, while the Presidency of Defense Industries provides funding and logistical support. This ecosystem approach is designed to foster technological self-reliance across the entire space value chain. Notably, the private sector is also playing a role. Baykar’s space subsidiary, Fergani, is developing a complementary Turkish GNSS constellation with an ambitious plan to launch 100 satellites. Two of these satellites have already been built, with the first scheduled for launch in 2024, demonstrating multiple pathways toward achieving full domestic capability.

Economic impact and industrial development

BKZS also supports Türkiye’s economic goals. The 2030 Strategy includes a target to triple high-tech exports to $30 billion. Space technology is expected to contribute significantly to this goal by generating new opportunities for Turkish firms in satellite design, navigation electronics and advanced manufacturing.

By fostering domestic expertise, BKZS strengthens the foundation for a sustainable, self-sufficient aerospace sector, one capable of supporting both defense and commercial applications.

Aligning with a global trend

Türkiye’s efforts echo a growing global trend: building regional or national GNSS systems to reduce reliance on global services. Reflecting this shift, India’s NavIC is a fully operational regional GNSS; Japan’s QZSS, also operational, functions primarily as a GPS augmentation system over the Asia-Pacific; South Korea’s KPS is currently under development to provide independent PNT services across the Korean Peninsula. China’s BeiDou system also began as a regional constellation focused on the Asia-Pacific before expanding to become a global navigation system. Türkiye’s geographic position — at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East — positions it uniquely as a potential regional hub for satellite navigation services. While the project is rooted in national objectives, it also opens the door to international cooperation. Italy has emerged as a prospective partner, particularly in advancing space-qualified technologies, offering mutual benefits for both countries.

Looking ahead

Beyond 2030, TTürkiye envisions BKZS as a stepping stone toward a broader space infrastructure. This initiative signifies a strategic commitment to establishing a sustained and autonomous presence in space.

Of course, the success of BKZS will depend on more than ambition. Sustained political commitment, reliable funding, and continued advances in core technologies like atomic clocks and satellite systems will be essential. If these conditions are met, BKZS has the potential not only to enhance Türkiye’s strategic autonomy but also to establish the country as a key contributor to regional — and potentially global — GNSS capability.

June 30, 2025
Rocket Lab to launch ESA’s first LEO-PNT navigation satellites

The European Space Agency (ESA) has selected Rocket Lab Corporation to launch a dedicated Electron mission, marking the first time the company will deploy satellites for ESA’s next-generation navigation constellation, low-Earth orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO-PNT). T h ales Alenia Space and GMV, two European satellite prime contractors, are providing the “Pathfinder A” spacecraft for the mission. Rocket Lab plans to launch the satellites from Launch Complex 1 no earlier than December 2025.

The mission will place the two satellites in a 510 km LEO to test a new method of delivering location, direction and timing services from satellites in low orbit, known as LEO-PNT. ESA will use this demonstration to evaluate how a low Earth orbit satellite fleet can work with the Galileo and EGNOS constellations, which provide Europe’s global navigation system from higher orbits.

This contract highlights Rocket Lab’s growing role as a launch provider for European constellation operators and demonstrates the Electron rocket’s strong reputation. Earlier this year, Rocket Lab deployed a full constellation of IoT satellites for French operator Kinéis and launched a global wildfire detection mission for Germany-based OroraTech. Since 2021, Rocket Lab has supported European satellite operators with Electron missions

June 30, 2025
TrustPoint launches third low-Earth orbit satellite

TrustPoint, a company specializing in next-generation space-based positioning and navigation solutions, launched and made initial contact with its third free-flying satellite, Time Flies. The satellite was launched June 23 aboard a rideshare mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This achievement marks another step forward in TrustPoint’s efforts to provide positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) services from low-Earth orbit (LEO).

Time Flies is TrustPoint’s third satellite launch in two years and incorporates significant technological improvements, including increased power and autonomy. These advancements enhance the company’s compact C-band payload, which is designed to support demonstrations and further field testing of TrustPoint-enabled receivers. These receivers are currently being developed in collaboration with the company’s expanding group of product partners.

“With the successful launch and first contact of Time Flies, TrustPoint continues to prove that a commercial GPS alternative from LEO is not only possible, it’s here,” said Patrick Shannon, founder and CEO of TrustPoint. “As global demand for alternative and complementary PNT systems accelerates, TrustPoint is uniquely positioned to unlock significant market potential.”

The Time Flies mission builds on the company’s previous launches, It’s About Time and Time We’ll Tell, and highlights TrustPoint’s continued focus on performance and autonomy to meet both commercial and national security requirements. The mission is supported by an all-U.S. team, reflecting the collaboration and expertise behind TrustPoint’s ongoing initiatives.

June 30, 2025
HBK shrinks tactical-grade navigation into a 15g GNSS/INS

MicroStrain by HBK has launched the 3DM-CV7-GNSS/INS, an ultra-compact, tactical-grade inertial navigation system (INS) designed for seamless integration into space-constrained platforms.

Combining advanced inertial technology with tightly coupled, onboard dual-frequency GNSS receivers, the 3DM-CV7-GNSS/INS delivers the precision and reliability needed for navigation and localization in dynamic environments, particularly those where GNSS signals may be weak, intermittent, or denied altogether.

From autonomous robotics to drones and unmanned ground vehicles, this new solution helps engineers overcome one of the toughest challenges in modern navigation: achieving consistent, high-quality data in challenging conditions.

Weighing 15.6 grams and measuring 38x30x10mm, the 3DM-CV7-GNSS/INS offers tactical-grade performance without size, weight, or cost trade-offs. Its user-friendly functionality, adaptive extended Kalman Filter, and full industrial temperature calibration deliver robust and reliable data acquisition across a wide range of real-world scenarios.

Engineers benefit from the sensor’s compatibility with open-source platforms such as PX4 and ROS, which enables faster development cycles and easier integration into existing architectures.

June 30, 2025
ESA teams up with Leonardo against satnav jamming

The European Space Agency (ESA) and Leonardo are embarking on a joint project to explore smart antennas powered by machine learning to block unwanted signals.

Representatives of ESA and Leonardo signed a contract at the Paris Air Show to research and develop machine learning techniques to steer antenna arrays to block out unwanted signals. The project will be developed under the umbrella of ESA’s Navigation Innovation Support Programme (NAVISP).

Smarter antenna designs for resilience

Conventional antennas catch signals from all directions. A controlled reception pattern antenna (CRPA) can focus on signals coming from specific satellites and ignore signals or interference coming from other directions. These types of antennas are used in satellite navigation receivers to block jamming and counterfeit signals. They rely on electronics that control how they adjust their patterns (beamforming).

Under contract with NAVISP, Leonardo — together with ELT Group as subcontractor — will explore the reduction of the distance between the antenna elements to reduce the size and weight of the antenna array, and the use of machine learning to determine the best antenna setup and adjust the settings faster. This approach will lead to smaller, smarter and more effective antennas, especially useful in space-limited environments such as aircraft.

The project covers identification of the smarter algorithm for signal blocking, building and testing a real-time receiver demonstrator based on the selected algorithm, and comparing it to conventional larger antennas. The aim is to reach a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4, delivering a lab-tested technology by the end of the project, in two years.

June 26, 2025