Four new systems aim to keep navigation working as RF interference worsens
Defense and aerospace suppliers are rolling out new tools to protect positioning and timing when satellite signals come under attack. The latest products span anti-jamming antennas, integrated navigation units, interference detection services and a long-endurance VTOL drone built for demanding surveillance missions.
At the front end of the problem, Calian has introduced the CR8894SXF+, a controlled reception pattern antenna designed for defense, marine and critical infrastructure users that cannot afford a loss of GNSS continuity. The low-power, compact antenna uses in-band null forming to shield GPS L1/L2 and Galileo E1/E5b signals in congested or degraded radio-frequency environments. It supports in-band nulling from 20 dB to 40 dB and out-of-band rejection up to 80 dB across 700 MHz to 2,500 MHz. Two independent low-noise amplifier channels are intended to keep the antenna operating if one signal band is compromised. The system also outputs real-time status data through a serial interface so operators can track RF conditions and equipment health as threats emerge.
Safran Electronics & Defense is pushing resilience deeper into the navigation stack with BlackNaute, an autonomous PNT system that combines dual-core HRG inertial navigation, the Skylight multi-mode GNSS receiver board and an atomic clock. The goal is to preserve trusted positioning and timing in electronic warfare conditions where jamming and spoofing can disrupt or corrupt satellite navigation. Safran said the system’s anti-jamming and anti-spoofing algorithms have been validated in more than 16,000 operational cases. When signals are found to be compromised, BlackNaute can switch automatically to autonomous and trusted navigation and timing sources to keep operations running. Its modular architecture is designed for use across multiple platforms, and Airbus Helicopters has selected the new Embedded GNSS and Time INS for the NH90.
Beyond onboard protection, operators are also seeking a broader view of where interference is happening and how it is changing. HawkEye 360 has upgraded its GNSS-I Detection suite with a wider-frequency algorithm intended to better separate individual emitters, plus GPS spoofing detection and terrain-adjusted geolocation. The company said the changes improve the accuracy, coverage and insight available to defense, intelligence and national security users tracking jamming and spoofing activity worldwide. The aim is to deliver faster and more precise warning of signal disruptions so agencies can assess risk and respond with greater confidence. On the platform side, ESEN’s GöKHUN VTOL unmanned aerial system reflects the parallel demand for aircraft that can keep intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions going over long periods in complex environments. The tactical drone has a maximum takeoff weight of 110 kg, maximum fuel and payload capacity of 26 kg, endurance of up to 16 hours with minimal payload and around nine hours with a 12 kg sensor package. It cruises at 96 kph to 158 kph, reaches more than 150 km in direct line-of-sight range and can operate up to about 5,500 meters.
Together, the four products point to a wider shift in navigation and mission systems design. Users increasingly expect aircraft, ships, military platforms and critical infrastructure to keep functioning when the RF environment is contested, congested or deliberately manipulated. That is pushing industry toward layered resilience, where antennas suppress interference, integrated PNT systems preserve trusted timing, detection networks expose threats and long-endurance UAVs sustain operations despite growing pressure on GNSS-dependent missions.