Safran Federal Systems has unveiled Blacknaute, a next-gen inertial navigation system (INS) for precise navigation and timing in GPS-denied and electronic warfare (EW)-contested environments.
Built for the US Department of Defense, Blacknaute leverages the company’s patented HRG Dual Core technology, a hemispherical resonator gyro platform that helps provide resilient positioning, navigation, and timing even when GPS signals falter.
The system is compatible with both existing and future defense platforms that require accuracy in degraded signal conditions.
According to Safran, Blacknaute achieves better than 0.4 nautical miles per hour (0.46 miles/0.74 kilometers per hour) drift, ensuring navigation accuracy without satellite input.
It also features a multi-constellation Global Navigation Satellite System receiver for secure navigation, as well as an “ultra-stable” atomic clock that maintains timing precision.
“Blacknaute represents a leap forward in GPS-denied inertial navigation,” said Jon Leombrone, Executive Vice President of Navigation Systems at Safran.
“With high performance capabilities, modular architecture, and an open-systems design, Blacknaute is built to meet the evolving demands of next-generation defense platforms.”
Resilience and Integration
The system’s Interference Detection and Mitigation tech helps it resist jamming and spoofing, improving situational awareness in contested environments.
Weighing under 16 pounds (7.3 kilograms), Blacknaute is optimized for size, weight, and power to support fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and autonomous systems.
It also reportedly complies with aviation safety standards and aligns with open mission architectures for seamless integration across US military platforms.
Safran positions Blacknaute as a key step toward high-assurance navigation and timing for multi-domain operations where GPS reliability can no longer be guaranteed.
