Muon-based research could facilitate Arctic operations
The Los Angeles-class submarine USS Hartford surfaces near Ice Camp Sargo in the Arctic Circle. (Photo: USN)
A multinational team has won the latest Global-X Challenge competition to develop a new navigation solution for GPS-denied Arctic locations.
The winning project includes input from Finnish, Japanese, UK and US researchers and is led by Dr Chris Steer, MD of UK-based Geoptic Infrastructure Investigations Limited.
They aim in nine months to demonstrate a proof-of-concept alternative navigation system for the Arctic, using naturally occurring cosmic ray muons with equal precision to GPS as an alternative to satellite-derived data.
The Global-X Challenge is co-funded annually by the USN Office of Naval Research (ONR) and US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command.
Steer said in a 23 November statement released by the ONR: ‘Like echolocation, the timing difference between ‘pings’ — the signals from a crossing muon in our detectors – can allow the user to measure the distance from one detector to another with multiple detectors allowing location by triangulation. The technique has already been tested [successfully] in the laboratory.’
Dr Charles Eddy, lead ONR science director for the project, noted how polar navigation is becoming more important as melting icecaps open up Arctic waterways to merchant shipping and naval vessels.
He added: ‘This project, which uses cosmic relativistic particles that continuously impinge on the Earth’s entire surface, offers an innovative approach to the challenge of navigation at high latitudes with little or no GPS service.’
More from Defence Notes
-
Israel defence ministry pushes ambitious spending plans for tanks, drones and KC-46 aircraft
The procurement and acceleration production plans – some of which still await approval – across the air and land domains will aim to strengthen the operational needs of the Israel Defense Forces.
-
US reforms its defence acquisition system to focus on commercial capabilities
This shift is planned to accelerate the procurement and fielding of capabilities. As part of this strategy, the US also intends modernise its regulations in an attempt to change its bureaucratic and risk-averse culture.
-
Australia’s Exercise Talisman Sabre concludes after a series of firsts
More than 40,000 military personnel from 19 participating nations took part in the 11th iteration of the biennial Exercise Talisman Sabre multi-domain event which was held across Australia and in Papua New Guinea.
-
US Africa Command targets logistic solutions
AFRICOM is seeking IT systems and supply chain management solutions to enhance interoperability and standardise logistical processes in its area of responsibility.
-
Rheinmetall sales up by almost a quarter on wave of German spending
Germany’s Rheinmetall released its 1H 2025 results on 7 August, continuing the strong growth of recent years. A particular highlight of the result’s presentation was the Skyranger air defence system for which the company is predicting sales of about US$8.2 billion from the German Government before the end of the year.
-
Defence companies continue to ride procurement wave
Vehicle and technology companies are reporting substantial growth compared to the first half of 2024. Italy’s Fincantieri saw revenues jump 24% for the first half of the year compared to 2024 and Thales up 6.8% for the same period. General Dynamics reported second quarter revenue growth of 8.9% for the second quarter compared to last year and MilDef reported organic order intake growth of 58%.