Navkite™ - Protection of inertial navigation system based on interference detection and mitigation solution

Thanks to the breakthrough brought by the Hemispherical Resonator Gyroscope (HRG), Safran Electronics & Defense has been introducing the most efficient navigation-grade Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) in terms of robustness and C-SWaP (Cost, Size, Weight and Power), with products such as•Onyx, high-performance land and sea inertial reference system ([1])•Skynaute, ultra-compact hybrid navigation system for helicopters, UAVs and aircrafts ([2])•Spacenaute, high-end inertial measurement unit for space launchers, qualified on Ariane6.Safran is also constantly renewing and improving its inertial products, by bringing its latest technologies, such as closed-loop MEMS accelerometers presented in 2022 at DGON ISS ([3]), but also by adding new functionalities, always leading to more resilient, cost-effective and SWAP-oriented solutions.Nowadays, the advanced navigation applications operate in harsh conditions, and navigation warfare and GNSS denial have become today's war. Those applications demand ever more adaptable and Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (R-PNT).In 2022, thanks to the merger with Orolia (now Safran Trusted 4D), Safran Electronics & Defense has broadened its navigation and timing portfolio, and is now able to offer fully Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (R-PNT) solutions. In particular, we were able to combine efficiently two of our most advanced solutions into one:•VersaSync, embedding Interference Detection and Mitigation suite, a low-SWAP, high performance, mission timing and synchronization device featuring a GNSS master clock, high performance oscillator and an atomic clock into a ruggedized time server that delivers accurate time and frequency signals.•Geonyx, a naval and land inertial navigation system based on HRG technology, that offers best-in-class environmental robustness and performance (see [2] and [4]).By joining together those two solutions, which have already proven their ability to achieve the highest navigation and timing performance in GNSS-denied environments, we have been able to offer a fully autonomous and resilient solution. This is Navkite™.This paper presents how NAVKITE was designed and tested. In particular, it will explain the principles of GNSS jamming and spoofing detection, and how the equipment is able to mitigate this interference by switching to a pure inertial mode. The paper will also focus on the challenges of the integration and coupling of a time server and an inertial navigation system into an all-in-one solution. Finally, a focus will be made on the test campaign of this equipment, that was defined and performed with the French naval special forces in GNSS-denied and harsh environmental conditions.