As the world grapples with the increasing vulnerability of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to jamming and spoofing, a pioneering enterprise SaaS company, SandboxAQ, has been selected to join NATO’s esteemed Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) cohort.
This prestigious program aims to harness the power of dual-use technologies to address critical challenges in areas such as energy, sensing, and surveillance, with SandboxAQ’s award-winning AQNav magnetic anomaly navigation system at the forefront. By leveraging cutting-edge quantum technology and artificial intelligence, AQNav offers a robust, all-weather navigation solution that is resistant to interference, making it an attractive proposition for both military and commercial applications.
With its inclusion in the DIANA cohort, SandboxAQ will collaborate with NATO’s network of experts to accelerate research and development, expand use-cases, and test AQNav in specialized environments, further solidifying its position as a leader in the field of quantum navigation.
SandboxAQ and NATO‘s Defence Innovation Accelerator
SandboxAQ, an enterprise SaaS company, has been selected to participate in the 2025 Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) cohort, a program established by NATO to tackle complex societal challenges. The company’s award-winning AQNav magnetic anomaly navigation system will be accelerated and expanded through this program, which aims to leverage dual-use technologies that address critical solutions in various areas, including energy and power, sensing and surveillance, secure information sharing, human health and performance, and critical infrastructure and logistics.
The DIANA program unites companies worldwide to develop disruptive, dual-use technologies that could solve key needs for the Alliance. As part of the cohort’s Sensing & Surveillance group, SandboxAQ will receive resources, insights, developmental support, and opportunities to test AQNav in a variety of specialized environments. This collaboration is expected to further extend the commercial and defence capabilities of AQNav, which is currently being tested by the U.S. Air Force, Acubed (the Silicon Valley innovation center of Airbus), Boeing, and a U.S. allied government.
The selection of SandboxAQ for the 2025 DIANA cohort highlights the potential of its AQNav technology to provide a secure navigation alternative for both commercial and defence use cases. With the increasing occurrence of GPS jamming and spoofing in key regions of the world, the need for innovative technologies like AQNav has become more urgent. By supplementing the onboard systems of aircraft, AQNav serves as an additional key safeguard, providing an all-weather, day/night, terrain-agnostic, real-time navigation solution that is nearly impossible to jam or spoof.
The Technology Behind AQNav
AQNav is a navigation technology that leverages SandboxAQ’s proprietary Large Quantitative Models (LQMs), quantum sensors, and the Earth’s crustal magnetic field. This combination provides a unique navigation solution for military and commercial applications that does not rely on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). As a result, AQNav enables worldwide availability and application across all domains, including air, land, and sea.
The use of quantum sensors in AQNav allows for the detection of subtle changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, which can be used to determine the location and orientation of an aircraft. This technology has been tested extensively by the U.S. Air Force, with over 200 hours of flight tests and more than 40 sorties, including two large-scale military exercises and other real-world flight tests. The results have shown that AQNav can serve as a primary navigation source and has the potential to calibrate once and scale across similar aircraft types without individual aircraft calibration.
The proprietary LQMs used in AQNav are a key component of the technology, allowing for the analysis and interpretation of complex data from the quantum sensors. These models enable the system to provide accurate and reliable navigation solutions, even in environments where traditional navigation systems may be compromised. The combination of LQMs, quantum sensors, and the Earth’s crustal magnetic field makes AQNav a robust and resilient navigation technology that can operate in a variety of conditions.
Applications and Testing of AQNav
The potential applications of AQNav are vast, with the technology being tested by various organizations, including the U.S. Air Force, Acubed, Boeing, and a U.S. allied government. The system has been integrated into several aircraft types, including those used for military and commercial purposes. The results of these tests have shown that AQNav can provide accurate and reliable navigation solutions, even in environments where traditional navigation systems may be compromised.
In addition to its use in aircraft, AQNav also has potential applications in other areas, such as land and sea navigation. The technology’s ability to operate independently of GNSS makes it an attractive solution for situations where satellite navigation is not available or reliable. Furthermore, the system’s robustness and resilience make it suitable for use in a variety of environments, including those with high levels of interference or jamming.
The testing and validation of AQNav have been extensive, with the system being evaluated in various scenarios and conditions. The results of these tests have demonstrated the technology’s potential to provide accurate and reliable navigation solutions, even in challenging environments. As a result, AQNav has received recognition as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024 and Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech, among other prestigious awards.
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