ANELLO and Q-CTRL Partner on GPS-Independent Navigation for UAVs

Insider Brief ANELLO Photonics and Q-CTRL have partnered to develop GPS-independent navigation for UAVs using photonic inertial sensing and quantum magnetic mapping. The system combines SiPhOG™ gyroscopes with Ironstone Opal quantum sensing to provide accurate positioning in GPS-denied or jammed environments. The collaboration targets defense and commercial use cases where GNSS vulnerabilities, including spoofing and jamming, pose growing operational risks. PRESS RELEASE — ANELLO Photonics, the creator of the Silicon Photonics Optical Gyroscope (SiPhOG™) and a leader in solid-state, high-precision inertial navigation systems, and Q-CTRL, the global leader in quantum infrastructure software for real-world quantum applications, today announced a strategic collaboration to accelerate the development of resilient navigation solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) designed to operate in GPS-denied and contested environments. The partnership will integrate ANELLO’s SiPhOG™ inertial navigation and measurement technology with Q-CTRL’s Ironstone Opal quantum magnetic navigation capabilities, creating a multi-layered Quantum Navigation Solution (QNS) capable of delivering precise positioning even when GPS signals are degraded, jammed, or entirely unavailable. Satellite navigation has become foundational to land, air, and sea operations across commercial and defense sectors, however vulnerabilities in Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are emerging as a critical challenge. GPS disruptions from deliberate interference, known as jamming or spoofing, pose a $1B daily threat in the U.S. alone, impacting defense missions and commercial transport and logistics operations worldwide. GPS jamming and spoofing have recently emerged as a major challenge in the Persian Gulf, impacting both military operations and shipping. This collaboration combines two breakthrough technologies, representing the world’s first silicon photonics-based inertial sensing and quantum-sensing-powered magnetic map matching integration, and paves the way for QNS to scale. This layered approach provides a critical GNSS backup by delivering continuous, bounded positioning estimates that do not degrade with mission duration. The combined technology will define the future of resilient navigation for autonomous and mission-critical platforms operating in the world’s most demanding environments.  “Reliable navigation is fundamental to autonomy, safety, and mission assurance. By combining ANELLO’s proven SiPhOG-based inertial sensing with Q-CTRL’s groundbreaking Ironstone Opal quantum navigation technologies, we are exploring a powerful new architecture designed to deliver resilient positioning even when GPS is unavailable or compromised.” Dr. Mario Paniccia, Co-Founder and CEO of ANELLO Photonics. “Our focus at Q-CTRL is on making quantum technologies useful in the real world. ANELLO has impressed us with their focus on enabling real-world missions for advanced autonomous platforms, and we’re excited to combine our technologies to deliver the most advanced capabilities to our customers and the warfighters who keep us safe.” Prof Michael J. Biercuk, CEO and Founder of Q-CTRL As electronic warfare capabilities evolve and autonomy expands across commercial and defense operations, resilient navigation is becoming a requirement for supporting the next generation of mobility.Contact ANELLO Photonics and Q-CTRL to learn more. Mohib Ur Rehman LinkedIn Mohib has been tech-savvy since his teens, always tearing things apart to see how they worked. His curiosity for cybersecurity and privacy evolved from tinkering with code and hardware to writing about the hidden layers of digital life. Now, he brings that same analytical curiosity to quantum technologies, exploring how they will shape the next frontier of computing. Share this article: