Russia Unveils New Satellite-Free Navigation System for Aircraft

Russia’s Rostec State Corporation, through its Rosel holding, has introduced new satellite-free navigation equipment designed for use in aircraft, helicopters, and drones.

The device enables precise navigation in regions with unreliable satellite coverage and in environments where communication signals are deliberately disrupted.

The upgraded system, based on a Doppler speed and drift angle meter, has passed flight tests and is now ready for serial production. According to Rosel, the product incorporates multiple improvements over previous models. These include a fourfold reduction in power consumption, significantly reduced weight and size, and enhanced reading accuracy through digital processing.

Rosel noted that the equipment is intended as an autonomous backup system for the navigation of most aircraft types. It is capable of operating in remote regions such as the Arctic, where satellite signals may be intermittently unavailable. The system is also suited for operations in contested environments where GPS spoofing, jamming, or cyber threats are present.

“Work on upgrading DISS started in 2020. An additional incentive to accelerate R&D was the government subsidy in 2021. All flight tests have been successfully completed to date. Production contracting has begun,” the company said in a statement.

The product’s software is entirely Russian-made and is compatible with all onboard avionics systems. The key components are produced by enterprises under the Rosel umbrella. Doppler meters developed by Rosel have been widely used since the 1960s on aircraft models by Tupolev, Sukhoi, Yakovlev, Ilyushin, and helicopters by Mil and Kamov.

Rosel emphasized that the new navigation system outperforms both Russian and foreign counterparts in key technical parameters.