The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) is investing $50 million of preferred equity in Advanced Navigation, an Australian company that produces assured Positioning Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions for use by the mining, defence, aerospace, automotive, and marine sectors.
Inertial Navigational Systems (INS) is an alternative to Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and is designed to maintain high accuracy when GPS signals are degraded, denied or lost. While both GPS and INS can be used in PNT technologies, conventional GPS is susceptible to spoofing or jamming, vulnerable to solar storms and weather extremes, and cannot be used underwater or underground. By combining INS, robotics, AI, and high-precision sensing, Advanced Navigation’s PNT solutions can overcome GPS’ vulnerabilities and deliver next generation navigation systems.
NRFC funding will be used to support Australian manufacturing of the company's hardware and software and will also be used to commercialise its Australian developed intellectual property both domestically, and in overseas markets.
Advanced Navigation currently employs over 170 people in Australia and NRFC investment will help to create 172 new high-skilled roles in deep tech engineering, photonics, robotics, high-tech manufacturing, operations, and technical sales.
NRFC investment is part of a $158 million Series C funding round led by by Airtree Ventures. Other investors include Quadrant Private Equity, Main Sequence, KKR, In-Q-Tel, Alpha Intelligence Capital, The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull AC and OIF Ventures.
Quotes for media use:
Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation & Minister for Science
“Turning Australian research into commercial products is key to building a more diverse and resilient Australian economy.
"Using technology developed across Australia, with research hubs in Newcastle, Western Australia, Sydney, and Canberra, Advanced Navigation uses robotics, AI and high-precision sensing to improve navigation in the mining, defence, aerospace, automative and agricultural sectors – solving uniquely Australian problems with uniquely Australian solutions.
“The NRF’s $50 million investment is expected to create 172 new roles across engineering, robotics, high-tech manufacturing, photonics, operations and technical sales – building a Future Made in Australia.”
NRFC CEO David Gall
“Advanced Navigation’s INS technology was originally developed in Australia, and we are proud to be investing in a company that commercialises Australian research while creating highly skilled STEM and manufacturing jobs.”
“Advanced Navigation’s technology is precise, secure, reliable, and efficient, and its products are already being used in the mining, marine, and defence industries. The NRFC’s investment will help Advanced Navigation to bring its Australian developed technology to international markets.”
“NRFC investment in Advanced Navigation will keep the company’s headquarters, core R&D, and high-precision manufacturing capabilities here in Australia, building our sovereign and defensive capabilities and paving the way for the navigational tools of the future.”
Advanced Navigation CEO & Co-Founder Chris Shaw
“The era of relying on a single silver bullet for navigation is over. Across defence, energy transition, humanitarian response, and autonomous missions, certainty is required where GPS can no longer be trusted.
“The future belongs to intelligent systems that can sense, adapt, and navigate independently. At Advanced Navigation, we are building the resilient foundation by fusing high-precision inertial hardware with deep learning intelligence, ensuring autonomous systems behave predictably in unpredictable environments.
“Joined by new world-class investors, we are accelerating this capability to set the global benchmark for assured PNT. As autonomy becomes the new reality, we are not just participating in the market. We are defining it.”
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About the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC)
The NRFC is Australia’s sovereign investor in manufacturing capability. It has $15 billion to invest through direct loans, equity investments and loan guarantees across seven priority areas: renewables and low emissions technologies; enabling capabilities; defence capability; transport; value-add in resources; value-add in agriculture, forestry and fisheries; and medical science.
The NRFC’s role is to invest in Australian businesses and projects that design, refine and make to transform capability, grow jobs and a skilled workforce, and diversify our economy. The NRFC is a corporate Commonwealth entity, established by the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation Act 2023 (NRFC Act) in September 2023.
For more information, visit nrf.gov.au.
NRFC media contact: media@nrf.gov.au
Advanced Navigation - It’s in the Name
Advanced Navigation(Opens in a new tab/window) is a global leader in PNT and autonomous systems. By leveraging capabilities in software-enhanced hardware, every solution delivers unrivaled capabilities and exceptional performance across land, air, sea and space applications where GPS is unreliable.
Made possible with extensive research, testing and vertically integrated manufacturing, the company has progressed into deep technology fields, including robotics, inertial, photonic and quantum sensing, artificial intelligence, underwater acoustics, and GPS antennas and receivers. Customers choose Advanced Navigation for rapid product delivery and unmatched technical field expertise.
Headquartered in Sydney, Australia with multiple research facilities throughout the country and offices around the world. Advanced Navigation is an Australian manufacturer exporting globally.
For additional information, visit www.advancednavigation.com(Opens in a new tab/window)