Next-Generation Maritime Navigation Sensor for US Navy

Northrop Grumman’s AN/WSN-12 ISM is a next-generation sensor designed to significantly improve maritime navigation in GPS denied environments for surface ships and submarines By DA Staff / 12 Jun 2023

Inertial Navigation Systems (INS)

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Next-Generation Maritime Navigation Sensor for US Navy
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Northrop Grumman has been awarded a production contract from the US Navy for the new AN/WSN-12 Inertial Sensor Module (ISM). 

Northrop Grumman’s AN/WSN-12 ISM is a next-generation sensor designed to significantly improve maritime navigation in Global Positioning System (GPS) denied environments for surface ships and submarines.

The new AN/WSN-12 ISM is a key component of the US Navy’s AN/WSN-12 Inertial Navigator System (INS), upgrading the Northrop Grumman-built AN/WSN-7 INS. 

WSN-7 is on nearly every ship in the US Navy and has been the program of record for more than two decades. Surface ships and submarines rely heavily on the positioning data provided by GPS for navigation, for safety at sea and to fire weapons. The AN/WSN-12 ISM provides highly accurate positioning data with or without GPS, a key component to establishing Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT) maritime solutions.

The first ISM is expected to be fielded later this year.

“The new AN/WSN-12 Inertial Navigator System will deliver more precision and performance for the warfighter while occupying the same footprint as its predecessor,” said Todd Leavitt, vice president, naval and oceanic systems, Northrop Grumman. “This allows upgrades to be made on existing systems where space is at a premium.”

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