Advanced Navigation, specializing in assured positioning navigation and timing (APNT) technologies, with Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Defense Australia (HDA), producers of spacecraft engines, aircraft components and defense solutions, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop strategic-grade APNT solutions.
Signed on the opening day of Land Forces 2024 International Defense Exposition, the agreement will see the three companies collaborate on the development of high-performance inertial navigation systems (INS) for autonomous, airborne and crewed systems. This will be used for precision targeting and vehicle navigation in global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-contested environments across land and air domains.
Under the agreement, the co-developed solutions will be integrated into Hanwha Aerospace’s global supply chain, aiding the advancement of the broader strategic APNT interests for Australia and international markets.
Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw shares, “The landscape of sovereign defense 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 Defense 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.”
Hanwha Defense Australia, Acting Managing Director Dean Michie shares, “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.”
Fusion of Innovation with Advanced Technologies
By integrating Advanced Navigation’s IP in digital fibre-optic gyroscope (DFOG) technologies with Hanwha’s robust aerospace and defense capabilities, the agreement will look to augment Australia’s manufacturing and supply chain resilience to meet the demand of global military supply chains.
Hanwha Defense Australia’s Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in Melbourne, Australia, 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.
Hanwha Aerospace Mr Junghun You shares, “Increasing global supply chain capacity will ensure critical defense capabilities remain uninterrupted. These technological strides will position Australia as a trailblazer in defense manufacturing on the international stage and strengthen its national security.”
