Roke launches low-cost anti-jam GNSS system for drones

Roke has launched Nav-Sync Armour, an anti-jam navigation system for defence and commercial platforms designed to widen access to protected GNSS technology.

The system is a Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna, or CRPA, built to counter interference with Global Navigation Satellite System signals. Designed as a direct replacement for standard GNSS antennas, it can be fitted to air, maritime and ground platforms.

GNSS disruption has become a more visible issue in conflict zones and near areas of military tension. Roke pointed to repeated interference affecting ships, aircraft and infrastructure across Ukraine, the Baltics and the Middle East, where jamming can degrade or block positioning signals used for navigation.

Nav-Sync Armour uses multiple receiver channels and digital processing to identify interference and preserve genuine satellite signals. Roke said it can mitigate multiple in-band jammers on L1 or L2 frequencies while maintaining GNSS output for continued operation.

The launch targets a long-running gap in the anti-jam navigation market. CRPA systems have typically been reserved for expensive assets such as tanks and combat aircraft because of their cost, leaving smaller or more numerous platforms without the same level of protection.

That gap has grown more significant as armed forces and commercial operators deploy larger numbers of drones and other autonomous systems. These platforms often depend on satellite navigation but may not justify the cost or integration burden of older anti-jam systems.

Roke said the new system was developed in a compact format with low size, weight and power requirements. It also said the product is free from US International Traffic in Arms Regulations controls, a point that may matter to buyers seeking fewer export-related restrictions in procurement and supply chains.

Heritage in CRPA

The Romsey-based business said its work in CRPA technology dates back more than four decades. It said it developed the first anti-jam CRPA system in 1984 and has since supplied expertise used on advanced air platforms.

Nav-Sync Armour draws on that background but is aimed at a broader set of users. Roke said it has worked with UK partners to establish an onshore supply chain capable of manufacturing the system in the thousands, reflecting an effort to move beyond small-volume specialist procurement.

The product connects to existing GNSS receivers through standard radio frequency interfaces, which should simplify retrofit work. That approach may appeal to operators seeking to improve resilience without redesigning a platform around a new navigation architecture.

Market pressure

The wider context is a shift in electronic warfare and navigation resilience, as lower-cost jamming tools have become more common. Satellite navigation signals are weak by the time they reach Earth, making them relatively easy to overwhelm with electromagnetic noise from ground-based systems.

As a result, anti-jam protection is drawing attention not only from defence buyers but also from commercial operators exposed to interference risks. Shipping fleets, uncrewed systems and critical infrastructure operators are among those examining how to maintain positioning and timing data in contested or disrupted environments.

Roke positioned Nav-Sync Armour as part of a broader resilient positioning, navigation and timing portfolio. This reflects a market trend towards layered protection, with operators combining antenna protection with other technologies to reduce dependence on a single vulnerable signal source.

Marc Overton, Managing Director of Roke, outlined the company's view of the commercial and operational gap the product is meant to address. "CRPAs have long been the gold standard for resilient navigation, but not always a cost-effective offering for some platforms. As a result, a large proportion of assets have been left either exposed to attack or reliant on solutions that struggle to perform in contested environments."

He added that older procurement patterns had concentrated protection on a narrow group of assets. "For decades, effective GNSS protection has been concentrated on high-cost platforms, with many systems operating without meaningful resilience. Nav-Sync Armour addresses that imbalance by delivering the performance of high-end CRPA systems in a compact, low-SWaP solution that is affordable for all platforms."