Advanced Navigation’s Spatial Dual INS for Gremlins
Advanced Navigation’s Spatial Dual inertial navigation system (INS) has been selected by Dynetics for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Gremlins programme, the company announced on 19 July.
Dynetics has been selected by DARPA to demonstrate the capability to launch UAS from aircraft and quickly recover them in mid-air.
The Gremlin UAS has been designed to be launched from a C-130 as well as combat aircraft. Once the mission is accomplished another aircraft retrieves the Gremlins and transports them back to an operational base.
Gremlins UAS are designed to be low cost and reusable within 24 hours after a mission.
The Spatial Dual selected by Dynetics is a ruggedised miniature GPS aided INS and attitude and heading reference system that provide accurate position, velocity, acceleration and orientation under challenging environment.
The system combines temperature calibrated accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers and a pressure sensor with a dual antenna RTK GNSS receiver. These are coupled in a sophisticated fusion algorithm to deliver accurate navigation and orientation.
Tim Keeter, deputy programme manager and chief engineer for Gremlins at Dynetics, said: ‘The unmanned air vehicles utilised in these future operations will carry a variety of different sensors and other payloads, working together to manage and conduct complex, highly-adaptive operations in contested environments.
‘When they complete their mission, they return to airborne manned platforms to be recovered to a forward operating base where they can be quickly refurbished and put back into the fight. The potential to overwhelm an adversary continuously with multiple volleys is tremendous.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures]()
Jammer resistant drone designs spark search for countermeasures
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has driven another stage of evolution for drones and the counter measures to defend against them.
-
![L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms]()
L3Harris launches Amorphous software for control of uncrewed platforms
The new Amorphous software is a universal controller that would allow a single operator to control a swarm of “thousands” of uncrewed systems, from drones to underwater platforms.
-
![ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025]()
ideaForge unveils new UAVs at Aero India 2025
India UAV supplier ideaForge has launched the Netra 5 and Switch V2 drones at Aero India 2025, boasting of enhanced endurance, AI-driven autonomy and improved operational capabilities.
-
![Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market]()
Shaping the future of defence: What 2025 holds for the global drone market
The UAV market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with innovations in technology and battlefield applications driving demand across military sectors. From the battlefields of Ukraine to NATO exercises and beyond, drones are transforming how wars are fought and supported.
-
![Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system]()
Maris-Tech confirms customers signing up for Jupiter Drones codec and AI-powered system
Launched at AUSA in October, the company’s multi-stream video codec is attempting to bring a new lease of life to drone technology through its AI accelerator.
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
