Thales announces next-generation Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for resilient navigation

• Thales is a global leader in inertial navigation solutions and the first and only manufacturer in France to produce this unique solution based on 3-axis Ring Laser Gyro and MEMS (Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems) accelerometer technology. ​
• New unit is designed for large-scale production with same level of performance as Thales’s best-in-class TopAxyz IMU, in a lighter, smaller and less power-consuming package.
• This solution is a key achievement resulting from years of research and investment. It is manufactured at Thales’s Valence and Châtellerault sites in France, which provide a sustainable industrial foundation for meeting the long-term demands of both commercial and military markets.

Thales today announces an innovative technology – with the creation of a new Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), in its TopAxyz product line, which uses MEMS technology, creating a breakthrough in navigation solutions.

The new unit, built on Thales's proven TopAxyz IMU technology, is the result of extensive investment not only in research and development, but also in advanced production facilities, with state-of-the art technology and expertise in inertial navigation. The result is a more resilient navigation system which is more compact (20% smaller), lighter (10% less) and less power-consuming, thanks to the use of MEMS accelerometers, instead of mechanical ones.

Best-in-class performance

TopAxyz is the best-in-class navigation unit on the market today and can be used in a large range of civil and military applications such as aeroplanes, helicopters, UAVs, land vehicles, weapons, launchers and naval. Combat proven, the new IMU maintains the same level of high performance, delivering precise localization, navigation, attitude and heading information, but also offers enhanced resilience in harsh environments such as strong acceleration, vibration, electromagnetic fields and hypervelocity. In commercial aviation, TopAxyz has cumulated 35 million flight hours, demonstrating the best level of accuracy, safety and reliability even in the most critical conditions.

In recent years, GPS jamming and spoofing operations have become increasingly common, affecting the navigation of both civilian and military platforms across all environments - air, land, and sea. Therefore reliable and trustworthy real-time navigation systems that withstand these external threats are essential. The TopAxyz new IMU maintains resilient navigation capability, despite these threats.

Technological innovation

This innovative design is based on Thales’s advanced sensors, using a three-axis Ring Laser Gyrometer (RLG) and three digital MEMS accelerometers with a very small mass and form factor, in a single unit. The MEMS technology facilitates serial production, allowing for a rapid increase in production rates. This development will significantly contribute to the growth of production, which began with the tripling of capacity currently underway at the Thales site in Châtellerault.

Thales - global leader in civil aeronautics and inertial navigation solutions

Thales is a leading player in inertial navigation solutions for over fifty years. This latest-generation Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) capitalizes on the Group’s solid experience expertise in designing high-end Inertial Navigation Systems, based on RLG technology.

Availability

First customer deliveries are expected in early H2 2026.

"With the introduction of MEMS technology, Thales opens a new chapter of its fifty year history in advanced inertial solutions," said Florent Chauvancy, Vice President Flight Avionics activities, Thales. “This new generation IMU integrating MEMS is a technological and industrial breakthrough towards ever more resilient and competitive navigation solutions, with optimized Size, Weight and Power consumption and best-in-class performance.”