$26m agreement to arm Polish counter-drone defences

Advanced Navigation has secured a $26 million supply agreement to supply hundreds of its Boreas fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG) inertial navigation systems (INS) for integration into KONGSBERG’s PROTECTOR counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) platforms.

The collaboration follows a previous multimillion-dollar deal which saw Advanced Navigation provide its Boreas D90 FOG INS for integration into KONGSBERG’s PROTECTOR RS4 platform.

The companies said the inertial systems will provide precise positioning, orientation and heading, allowing C-UAS stations to accurately detect, track and engage air threats when GPS signals are jammed, spoofed or unavailable.

The PROTECTOR platform provides a low-cost-per-engagement C-UAS capability, while Boreas FOG INS enables the platform to continue operating when satellite navigation can no longer be trusted. Drawing on algorithms to fuse, interpret and filter critical sensor data in real time, the system is able to maintain positioning under extreme physical and electronic stress.

“As electromagnetic warfare becomes a defining feature of modern conflict, precision is no longer determined by arsenals or sensors alone. It depends on knowing exactly where the platform is, how it is moving and maintaining that accuracy even when GPS is denied. That’s where Boreas becomes mission-critical,” said David Leniewski, Manager Director at Advanced Navigation EMEA.

“By providing a resilient source of positioning, orientation and stabilisation independent of satellite navigation, Boreas enables PROTECTOR to maintain accurate sensor alignment and target engagement under conditions that would degrade conventional navigation systems. It ensures operators retain confidence in every engagement, even in the most heavily contested electromagnetic environments.

“Together, PROTECTOR and Boreas deliver a layered C-UAS capability that is both economically sustainable and operationally resilient. One provides the proven kinetic effect; the other ensures that effect can still be delivered when the battlespace is actively trying to deny it.”

Supported by the Australian Department of Defence’s Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program, the agreement demonstrates how deep-tech disrupters can integrate into international defence manufacturing networks.

Jørgen Andreas Bull, senior vice president, land systems, KONGSBERG said, “By integrating Advanced Navigation’s inertial navigation technology into our PROTECTOR C-UAS platforms, we are providing forces with a resilient capability that continues when GPS is denied. Whether protecting tactical land convoys from asymmetric attack, safeguarding critical airfields, or defending coastal naval assets against uncrewed swarms, this partnership delivers the reliable, multi-spectrum resilience modern forces demand.”

Manufactured out of Norway, the PROTECTOR platforms will be delivered to the Polish Armaments Agency as part of a NOK16 billion deal (about $2.41 billion), to protect the country against evolving air threats.

Images: Supplied