Magnetic navigation paired with quantum physics might just be the solution to GPS jamming. And Leidos is betting on it.
The defense tech firm is developing an alternative navigation system that uses the Earth’s magnetic field as a stable reference, pairing it with quantum sensing to steer through environments where GPS signals can’t.
Called magnetic navigation (MagNav), the approach taps into quantum mechanics to measure minute magnetic variations. It relies on particles that exist in multiple states at once, a trait that makes the system both precise and resistant to interference.
Unlike conventional systems that can drift when jammed or spoofed, MagNav is based on physics constants, not relative measurements. That makes it less vulnerable, a potentially game-changing feature for contested or GPS-denied zones.
Leidos is positioning MagNav as a way to close one of the biggest gaps in modern navigation. The project is being developed with Frequency Electronics and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, under subcontract to Leidos.
Understanding How it Works
Aaron Canciani, Leidos’ Transition of Quantum Sensing Manager and a former US Air Force scientist, explained that MagNav’s precision comes from quantum magnetometers.
“Nitrogen vacancy-diamond magnetometers use the crystal structure of a diamond to define a sensing axis in which quantum measurements of the complete vector field can be known to exquisite accuracies,” he said.
“Quantum magnetometers have the potential to greatly increase position and attitude accuracies in magnetic navigation systems.”
Leidos has explored quantum tech for years, mostly focusing on applications to cyber security and sensing.
The company stated that its quantum team works with experts in artificial intelligence, digital modernization, intelligence, and defense to tap into capabilities “inaccessible to classical technologies.”
