Resilient PNT solutions
As a world leader in resilient Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions, Thales offers robust navigation systems based on GPS/GNSS technology, as well as anti-jamming and inertial systems, and multi-sensor fusion.
Powerful and resilient R-PNT solutions for reliable positioning in all circumstances, even without GPS
The longstanding challenge of providing positioning and navigation solutions has been largely met by navigation satellite constellations (GPS and GNSS). However, it is still necessary to be able to navigate without their assistance or in the event of signal deterioration, whether deliberate (e.g. jamming, decoying and cyber attacks) or not (e.g. technical failures and extreme environmental conditions).
Thales has extensive experience in these Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions.
- Diversified technology: Thales develops and integrates a wide range of technologies for R-PNT, including advanced GPS systems, Galileo PRS receivers, inertial solutions, and alternative PNT sensors. Thales provides complementary solutions that increase the resilience and accuracy of positioning.
- Anti-jamming and Electronic Warfare: Thales offers protection solutions against jamming, ensuring constant availability of positioning information even under severe electronic warfare conditions.
- Data Fusion: Thales solutions fuse data from multiple sensors, ensuring precise and reliable positioning information. This is particularly crucial in environments where GPS signals might be compromised.
- Modular Solutions: Thales' R-PNT solutions are designed to be modular and flexible, allowing integration onto all types of platforms (land, air, or naval).
What is a Resilient Positioning System?
"Resilient PNT" (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing) refers to technologies and systems designed to provide robust and reliable positioning, navigation, and synchronization services, even in cases of intentional or accidental disruptions or degradations. This includes solutions to counter interference, jamming, loss of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signals, and other threats that could affect the accuracy and continuity of PNT services. Resilient PNT uses a combination of different technologies and data sources, such as:
- Inertial navigation systems (INS)
- Alternative signal sources, such as terrestrial signal
- Advanced algorithms to detect and mitigate interference effects
- Cybersecurity measures to protect PNT systems against attacks
Therefore, R-PNT solutions consist of multiple independent data sources that enable the calculation of reliable and precise PNT predictions regardless of the situation.
An Effective Positioning, Navigation, and Timing System Solution
The Thales solution is based on:
- A multi-layered solution including GPS M-code and Galileo PRS receiver, anti-jamming protection, inertial solutions, and alternative PNT sensors.
- Fusion of data from different sensors to guarantee the availability of positioning information in all electronic warfare conditions.
- A modular solution suitable for all types of platforms (land, air, naval).
- Capability to display the operational jamming situation.
- Capability to model all equipment (digital twins) to select the best platforms and support mission planning.
The system provides precise PNT performance predictions to enable the selection of the best trajectories for the mission.
R-PNT system based on proven solutions
Thales bases its PNT-R solutions on a set of robust and proven technologies:
- TopStar-M: a military GPS receiver, the current version of which incorporates a GPS SAASM cryptographic component and is currently being upgraded to include Galileo PRS and GPS Code-M capabilities. Thales is the only company in France authorized to use Galileo PRS technology. Thanks to the combination of encrypted GPS Code-M and Galileo PRS signals, our receiver offers optimum protection against decoy attacks. To disrupt this type of receiver, it would be necessary to simultaneously compromise the military GPS and Galileo PRS security codes. Thales is the only global player to offer a solution that guarantees independent protection for GPS and Galileo. With our solution, you can continue to navigate via Galileo even if the GPS is completely jammed.
- TopShield: an advanced GNSS signal anti-jamming device, designed to operate in increasingly complex electronic warfare environments. It is based on CRPA (Controlled Radiated Pattern Antenna) technology. The performance of this solution is excellent: for example, a jammer that jams a 100n km radius will see its effectiveness reduced to less than 1 km as soon as TopShield is integrated into your platform. Thales is the only supplier in France to offer anti-jamming solutions.
- TopAxyz: a high-performance, low-drift inertial core capable of addressing mission and/or primary reference requirements. Inertia is non-jamming, non-decoyable, but nonetheless drifts. What really distinguishes two inertial systems is the extent of this drift, and in this respect our TopAxyz solution is the best in the world, with drift levels as low as 0.2 Nm/h at 50%, an excellent performance. This performance is made possible by our new-generation tri-axis laser gyro, developed specifically for the Airbus A350. For the first time, Airbus has chosen a supplier other than the American one for the inertia on the A350, a success which has led Thales to completely modernize its production facilities in Châtellerault, central France. Thanks to this modernization, we have multiplied the service life of our gyroscopes by 10 and the MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures) by 20. Today, out of 30 million flight hours on the A350, the MTBF measured by Airbus is 100,000 hours, twice as long as its competitor who is reaching 50,000 hours.
- MEMs: in the field of inertia, Thales is currently developing a new generation of inertial sensors based on MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology. This compact solution integrates three accelerometers and three gyrometers, all etched in silicon, offering exceptional performance. The accelerometer's performance is remarkable and allows us to meet the needs of all our market segments, from milli gauss (mg) to a few micro-g.
As far as gyrometers are concerned, although their performance is not as high as that of gyrolasers, it remains excellent: the MEMS gyro reaches 5x10-²°/h, compared with 5x10-³°/h for the gyrolaser. Thales is investing massively to internalize the entire production process for its MEMS sensors, with all production now carried out in Valence, southern France, thus guaranteeing a high-performance, 100% sovereign MEMS industry.
The resilience of this technology will be ensured by so-called Alternate-PNT solutions, which make it possible to recalibrate inertia (or limit its drift) without depending on GPS. These solutions include stellar navigation, magnetic navigation, radar, camera and altimetry recalibration, as well as the use of LEO constellations.
- And complementary location sensors.