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Safran unveils naval version of MicroGeonyx INS
Following the launch of the land-based version at Eurosatory in June, Safran Electronics & Defense is introducing MicroGeonyx M, an inertial navigation system (INS) designed for small naval platforms and autonomous systems. Capable of operating without GPS, it is aimed in particular at uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and light military craft.
The HRG Crystal hemispherical resonator gyroscope used in MicroGeonyx M is manufactured by SED at its Montluçon facility
© Jean-Baptiste Dureau – Safran
Safran Electronics & Defense (SED) is expanding its MicroGeonyx INS range, which is now available in land and naval variants, following the same approach as its Geonyx product line. The system continuously calculates a platform’s position, heading and attitude without relying on GPS. It is designed to meet the requirements of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and light naval platforms, for which size, weight, power consumption and cost are major constraints.
The system can also be installed on uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs), fast interceptors, amphibious platforms, and military or paramilitary vessels. It can additionally be integrated into payloads such as electro-optical turrets, radars, remote-controlled weapon stations (RCWSs) and rocket launchers, supporting target acquisition and geolocation.
Resilient navigation
MicroGeonyx M maintains its performance when global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals are jammed or unavailable. The system is also designed to withstand shock, vibration and magnetic interference. In its naval configuration, it has a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 100,000 hours. An optional Navigation Warfare (NavWar) function can detect various threats to satellite navigation, including jamming, spoofing and the fraudulent retransmission of GPS signals. When a threat is detected, the system automatically disables GPS integration to continue navigating without relying on a signal that is deemed to be compromised.
MicroGeonyx M is based on the HRG Crystal hemispherical resonator gyroscope, developed and manufactured by SED at its Montluçon facility in France. Production of this component increased fivefold between 2022 and 2026. To meet growing demand, the group has invested €120 million at the site, which is expected to reach an annual production capacity of up to 30,000 units by 2032.
This industrial capacity supports Safran’s broader strategy to expand the deployment of its inertial technologies. The same HRG core technology is already used in high-end inertial navigation systems aboard surface ships and submarines. The group now aims to address the needs of smaller, autonomous platforms that could be deployed in large numbers.
- Pascal Samama
