New Navigation Grade IMU for Future UK Weapons Platforms

Collins Aerospace has been awarded a multi-million-pound program as part of the UK’s Weapons Sector Research Framework (WSRF) to develop a navigation grade Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for use in future complex weapons platforms.

In conjunction with the Defence Science Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Collins will develop a tactical grade or ‘Class A’ Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) using Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology to advance the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD)’s initiatives.

“Complex weapons of the future require a higher grade of IMU navigation capability that can withstand harsher environments,” said Stuart Cooper, IMU Value Stream Leader for Collins Aerospace. “Over our 100-year history in Inertial Systems design, Collins has delivered hundreds of thousands of IMUs to both the military and commercial markets. Our forthcoming multi-year relationship with DSTL will provide enhanced capability to our users worldwide.”

Used for guidance and navigation on a wide range of multi-domain platforms, the new MEMS-based IMU will ensure required performance whilst targeting a lower cost and smaller form factor than current Ring Laser Gyro (RLG) and Fiber Optic Gyro (FOG) solutions. 

According to Collins Aerospace the company is the only UK supplier with a demonstrated capability of developing and manufacturing this technology for the military market. The company will conduct development work at its Engineering and Manufacturing facility in Plymouth and with its Advanced Technology Team in Bristol.