For governments and defence agencies, losing navigation is not an inconvenience. It’s a mission risk. The next leap in resilience is the ability to navigate with confidence without relying on satellites.
Quantum sensing offers that capability. By measuring inertial and gravitational forces with extreme precision, quantum inertial navigation systems can track position and movement even when GPS is denied, enabling new levels of operational autonomy and security.
Case: Navigation without GPS using quantum sensing
Traditional inertial navigation systems drift over time, requiring periodic corrections, often from GPS. Quantum inertial sensors aim to reduce that drift dramatically by leveraging quantum effects to measure acceleration and rotation with far higher precision.
This enables navigation in environments where satellite signals are unreliable or compromised, including:
- Underwater operations (submarines and underwater drones)
- Underground or urban canyon environments (tunnels, dense cities)
- Contested airspace where GPS is jammed or spoofed
- Disaster response scenarios where infrastructure is damaged
The result is a navigation stack designed for continuity, not convenience, maintaining trusted positioning when external signals can’t be trusted.
Business value
- Reliable navigation in GPS-denied or jammed environments
Maintain positioning and timing when satellites are unavailable or compromised.
- Enhanced operational capabilities
Strengthen mission execution for defence, border security, and emergency services in challenging conditions. - Reduced vulnerability to satellite disruptions
Lower dependence on a single point of failure in the navigation chain. - Strategic autonomy
Build sovereign capability in next-generation navigation technologies, aligned with security and resilience goals.
Technology readiness
Quantum inertial sensors are currently in prototype and field trial stages. Defence agencies are investing heavily in R&D to prove stability, ruggedisation, and performance under real operational conditions, where vibration, temperature shifts, and movement are constant.
Near-term adoption is most likely in high-value scenarios where GPS denial is common, and the cost of failure is high. Wider deployment will depend on miniaturisation, integration into existing platforms, and sustained performance over long periods without recalibration.
Leading players and experiments
The UK Ministry of Defence has supported quantum navigation trials focused on resilient positioning in GPS-denied environments.
Honeywell and Northrop Grumman are developing advanced inertial and quantum-enhanced navigation technologies for defence and aerospace applications.
The Fraunhofer Institute is advancing applied research in quantum positioning and navigation systems, supporting pathways from lab to field integration.
Discover more use cases here
