Advanced Navigation Won 16 Million Euro Contract
The firm will supply navigation systems for counter-drone platforms as GPS-denied targeting becomes a priority.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Robotics
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Advanced Navigation secured a 16-million-euro ($19 million) agreement to provide Boreas inertial navigation systems to Kongsberg. These systems are intended for use in counter-drone platforms slated for deployment in Poland.
Why it matters
The technology addresses the critical need for precise targeting in contested environments where GPS signals are unreliable or actively jammed. This deployment marks a shift toward localized navigation hardware that functions independently of external satellite networks.
Boreas units utilize fiber-optic gyroscopes alongside specialized sensors to determine orientation and North by sensing Earth's rotation. This allows the hardware to provide navigation data without relying on GPS or magnetic compasses.
The players
Advanced Navigation
An Australia-based robotics firm specializing in inertial navigation systems and AI-driven motion tracking.
Kongsberg
A Norway-based defense contractor that manufactures remote weapon stations and advanced autonomous systems.
PGZ
The Polish Armaments Group, a state-owned holding company overseeing a significant portion of Poland's defense manufacturing.
The details
Boreas systems function by continuously measuring the platform's motion and rotation relative to the planet. By integrating data from internal gyroscopes—devices that measure angular velocity—the system maintains sensor alignment and targeting data even when external satellite navigation is unavailable. These components are integrated into Kongsberg's PROTECTOR platforms, which use remotely operated turrets to engage aerial targets.
Timeline
2026: Poland placed an order for counter-drone batteries.
The Tech Race
The integration of Boreas systems into the Kongsberg PROTECTOR platform represents a strategic move to harden autonomous turrets against electronic warfare. This follows an industry-wide push to decouple precision targeting from global satellite dependencies in the face of widespread signal jamming.
This technology will first appear in the 18 counter-drone batteries ordered by Poland for defensive use. It establishes a requirement for future defense hardware to maintain full operational capability in environments where satellite connectivity is intentionally denied.
The takeaway
The move underscores the growing premium on hardware capable of navigating via Earth-based physical references rather than satellite signals. Observers should monitor Kongsberg’s planned expansion of manufacturing capacity in Poland as a signal of potential scaling for these integrated navigation packages.
Further reading
For more on the evolution of automated defense systems, see Robotics.
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Should your country prioritize increased investment in advanced autonomous air defense systems?
