Advanced Navigation, a leader in assured positioning navigation and timing (APNT) technologies, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) to jointly develop strategic-grade APNT solutions.
The agreement, announced at Land Forces 2024 International Defence Exposition, focuses on creating high-performance inertial navigation systems (INS) for autonomous, airborne, and crewed systems.
The collaboration aims to develop solutions for:
- Precision targeting
- Vehicle navigation in GNSS-contested environments
- Land and air domain applications
Chris Shaw, Advanced Navigation CEO, stated: “The landscape of sovereign defence manufacturing is experiencing a seismic shift, driven by advanced technologies like automation, machine learning, and precision engineering. Traditional approaches are no longer sufficient in meeting the complex demands of modern PNT systems. Collaborating with Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Defence Australia will not only bring together the brightest in engineering minds, it will forge a path toward unrivalled PNT excellence and reinforce our technological sovereignty.”
Key aspects of the partnership include:
- Integration of co-developed solutions into Hanwha Aerospace’s global supply chain
- Utilization of Advanced Navigation’s digital fiber-optic gyroscope (DFOG) technology
- Leveraging Hanwha’s aerospace and defense capabilities
Dean Michie, Acting Managing Director of Hanwha Defence Australia, commented: “We are pleased to sign this agreement with Advanced Navigation, as it reinforces our commitment to strengthening cooperation in developing joint advanced military capabilities. In support of uplifting the Australian industrial base, we look forward to equipping partners with next-generation solutions for accurate targeting, secure navigation, and synchronised operations in situations where GNSS signals may be degraded. This important sovereign capability will further strengthen the growing Australian South Korean relationship.”
Australian Facilities:
Hanwha Defence Australia’s Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in Melbourne: will provide critical facilities supporting the production and sustainment of tracked armoured vehicles, including multiple assembly lines, a 1,200-metre test track, a deep-water test facility, an obstacle course and a research and development centre. Stage 2 of the development will also include Australia’s EMI/EMC (electromagnetic interference/compatibility) chamber and test shooting tunnel alongside an expanded manufacturing capability.
Advanced Navigation’s high-tech manufacturing facility in New South Wales: will increase the secure production of APNT solutions. Specifically, enhancing the critical output of strategic-grade DFOGs, which possess the heightened sensitivity necessary to detect the Earth’s rotation. Advanced Navigation is one of only four companies in the world with the capability to manufacture this technology.
Mr. Junghun You of Hanwha Aerospace commented: “Increasing global supply chain capacity will ensure critical defence capabilities remain uninterrupted. These technological strides will position Australia as a trailblazer in defence manufacturing on the international stage and strengthen its national security.
The research collaboration between Advanced Navigation, Hanwha Aerospace, and Hanwha Defence Australia is underpinned by a legacy of innovation and engineering excellence. Built on decades of disruptive technologies and cutting-edge solutions, forged through rigorous research and development, this MoU is not only a continuation of shared commitments to advancing military capabilities, but a strategic effort to ensure Australia remains at the forefront of defence technology innovation.”
This collaboration aims to enhance Australia’s manufacturing and supply chain resilience while advancing APNT capabilities for global military applications.
