Honeywell is responding to a growing challenge in navigation technology: the increasing disruption of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals.
In 2024, Zurich University of Applied Sciences recorded more than 700 daily incidents of GNSS jamming and spoofing. These disruptions have affected both piloted and unmanned aircraft, forcing many to operate without reliable satellite-based navigation.
Modern inertial navigation systems (INS) depends on GNSS inputs for long-term accuracy. When those signals are blocked, degraded, or manipulated, the system requires alternative sources of positioning data to continue functioning effectively.
Alternative Systems Enhance INS Performance
In GNSS-denied environments, newer navigation technologies can support INS by supplying accurate data on position, velocity, and orientation.
Honeywell is enhancing INS capabilities with a software platform that integrates information from multiple alternative navigation sources, including:
- Vision-aided navigation: Compares live camera imagery with a map database. It performs well without GNSS access, though it is limited by visibility conditions.
- Magnetic anomaly-aided navigation: Uses variations in Earth’s magnetic field to determine location. It is weather-independent and GNSS-free but less effective at higher altitudes.
- Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite navigation: Relies on stronger, lower-altitude signals that are more resistant to jamming. However, limited satellite coverage requires frequent signal handoffs, increasing system complexity.
Layered Architecture for Flexible Use
No single alternative navigation method can fully replace GNSS. Honeywell’s layered architecture allows users to mix and match multiple systems depending on operational needs and mission profiles.
Initial deployment will begin in September 2025 with the vision-aided navigation system. Magnetic anomaly and LEO-based solutions are scheduled to follow in 2026.
Honeywell continues to evolve its INS technology to make systems smaller, lighter, and more accurate for environments where GNSS availability is limited or disrupted.
As intentional interference becomes more common, integrating multiple navigation approaches will be essential to ensuring reliable and accurate performance across all platforms and conditions.
