Advanced Navigation has signed a multi-million dollar contract with Rheinmetall Defence Australia to supply fibre-optic gyroscope (FOG) inertial navigation systems (INS) for integration into Rheinmetall’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV), which are currently in service with the Australian army.
This follows a prior agreement in which Advanced Navigation provided Rheinmetall with over 200 FOG INS for the Boxer CRV in 2021 as part of the Australian Army’s LAND 400 Phase 2 programme, the former said in a news release.
“Precise navigation is paramount to the survivability of armoured vehicles. It provides the situational awareness and ability to coordinate with other units needed to stay operational in challenging environments, where GPS signals are unavailable or unreliable,” shared Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw.
“In Australia, Rheinmetall is the largest supplier of military vehicles to the country’s armed forces,” he added.
“Our PNT solution equips the Boxer CRVs with accurate and robust navigation independent of satellite signals, ensuring they maintain tactical advantage in all conditions, even in electronic warfare scenarios.”
This software-enabled hardware allows the FOG INS to deliver navigation data superior to outputs based on traditional filter methods, while hosting a small form factor.
Additionally, the built-in optical gyroscope technology has no moving parts.
Advanced Navigation said this makes it less susceptible to shock and vibration-induced errors, which is critical when the vehicle is travelling through rough terrains.
Validated in real-world operations, the FOG INS is integrated into the Boxer CRV, armoured 8×8 vehicle.
The Boxer CRV is equipped with a reconnaissance mission module including the two-person digital Lance turret; the first crewed medium-calibre turret to be put into service on the Boxer platform.
Further, the collaboration between Rheinmetall and Advanced Navigation appeals to the Australian Defence Global Supply Chain (GSC) Program, which aims to increase the number of Australian suppliers and export opportunities with large defence primes.
The Boxer CRV has a reconnaissance mission module that includes the two-person digital Lance turret, which is the first crewed medium-calibre turret to be deployed on the Boxer platform.
Furthermore, the collaboration between Rheinmetall and Advanced Navigation is relevant to the Australian Defence Global Supply Chain (GSC) Programme, which seeks to enhance the number of Australian suppliers and export prospects with major defence primes.
