GPS-free navigation system tested on aircraft using Earth's magnetic field

A US military programme has demonstrated a quantum navigation system for aircraft that does not rely on GPS. The prototype, called MagNav, was developed by Honeywell following a 2024 award from the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit. It uses quantum sensors to read the Earth's natural magnetic field.

The system was installed on an Embraer E170 for a flight lasting 4 hours 23 minutes over the Pacific Ocean between Seattle and Alaska. According to the Defense Innovation Unit, MagNav improved position accuracy by 89% compared with traditional GPS backup systems. Data streamed directly to tablets carried by the flight crew, showing the system can be installed without a cockpit overhaul.

Kyle Norman, deputy director of the Defense Innovation Unit's Kill Web portfolio, said the demonstration is a significant win for the department's quantum sensing priorities. He added that the Earth's magnetic field cannot be blocked or spoofed, unlike traditional satellite navigation systems. The next test will see the system installed on a Boeing C-17 strategic transport.