Safran Electronics & Defense‘s SkyNaute inertial navigation system has been selected for the Airbus A220, marking its first application on a commercial airliner, the French aerospace group said.
The system combines inertial navigation with satellite navigation data to maintain accurate aircraft positioning when global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals are disrupted, unavailable or subject to jamming and spoofing.
Safran said the technology would help airlines address growing satellite-navigation interference in several regions of the world, drawing on capabilities already deployed on military aircraft, helicopters and drones operated by European armed forces.
SkyNaute uses a hemispherical resonator gyroscope (HRG), a technology patented by Safran that has no mechanical parts subject to wear and is designed to operate reliably in demanding environments.
Its compact size, low weight and reduced power consumption simplify installation and help airlines save weight, while meeting commercial aviation safety requirements, the company said.
“This is the first time our inertial navigation system will fly on a commercial airliner,” said Benjamin Declety, head of the Avionics Global business unit at Safran Electronics & Defense.
The system’s selection follows its deployment on platforms operating in challenging conditions, including helicopters exposed to strong vibrations and temperature variations, military aircraft facing shocks and jamming attempts, and drones requiring precise navigation and resistance to electromagnetic interference.
Safran announced a 120 million euro investment in June 2026 to expand and modernise its site in Montluçon, central France, where the HRG technology is developed and manufactured. The investment is expected to increase annual production capacity threefold, from 10,000 to 30,000 units by 2032.
