The U.S. Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has expanded its Transition of Quantum Sensing (TQS) program to integrate SandboxAQ’s AQNav magnetic navigation software for autonomous systems, announced November 18, 2025. This effort, managed under DIU’s Emerging Technologies portfolio, will deploy SandboxAQ’s dual-use AQNav to establish Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) resilience in environments where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are unavailable. Utilizing advanced quantum magnetic sensors, AQNav enables robust, non-GPS-reliant navigation by leveraging Earth’s geomagnetic field, addressing critical Joint Force needs for anomaly detection and resilient PNT capabilities.
DIU’s TQS Program Accelerates Quantum Navigation Technology
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is expanding its Transition of Quantum Sensing (TQS) program to include SandboxAQ’s AQNav software. This collaboration focuses on Magnetic Anomaly Navigation (MagNav) – a technique utilizing quantum magnetic sensors to map and navigate using Earth’s geomagnetic field. Crucially, MagNav offers a resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) solution, independent of vulnerable Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) like GPS. This is vital for military applications requiring reliable navigation in contested or GPS-denied environments.
SandboxAQ’s AQNav software will be deployed within the TQS program to generate real-world performance data. The goal is to benchmark MagNav’s capabilities against specific Department of War (DoW) use-cases, demonstrating its viability for autonomous systems and aerial platforms. The program prioritizes jam-resistant navigation, particularly for operations where GPS signals are unreliable – think over-ocean scenarios, reduced visibility, or active electronic warfare.
This DIU initiative represents a strategic push to move quantum sensing technologies out of the lab and into practical military applications. By focusing on MagNav, the TQS program aims to address urgent needs for resilient PNT. SandboxAQ’s Large Quantitative Models (LQMs) underpin AQNav, delivering advanced capabilities that could significantly enhance navigational independence and operational effectiveness in increasingly complex threat landscapes.
AQNav Software and Magnetic Navigation Capabilities
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is expanding its Transition of Quantum Sensing (TQS) program to include SandboxAQ’s AQNav software. This move addresses a critical need for resilient Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities, especially in environments where GPS signals are unavailable or actively jammed. AQNav utilizes Magnetic Anomaly Navigation (MagNav), leveraging Earth’s geomagnetic field for autonomous navigation – a fundamentally non-GPS reliant approach. Initial demonstrations will benchmark AQNav’s performance against specific Department of War use-cases.
AQNav’s core functionality centers on advanced quantum magnetic sensors. These sensors map subtle variations in Earth’s magnetic field, creating a unique “fingerprint” for location. Unlike GPS, which relies on satellite signals, MagNav offers inherent resilience against jamming and spoofing. SandboxAQ reports AQNav’s demonstrated readiness for expanded military evaluation, suggesting a level of maturity beyond typical prototyping. The TQS program aims to accelerate this transition from lab testing to real-world deployment on critical platforms.
The DIU’s focus on MagNav addresses urgent needs for jam-resistant navigation, particularly for aerial platforms operating in challenging environments like over-ocean or in low-visibility conditions. By leveraging Earth’s natural magnetic field, this technology provides a passive and independent source of positional data. This is crucial for maintaining operational capabilities in increasingly contested electromagnetic environments, where reliance on satellite-based systems presents significant vulnerabilities.
