Groundbreaking South Australian technology that could help deliver more accurate navigation in challenging operating environments is advancing towards commercialisation.
Groundbreaking South Australian technology that could help deliver more accurate navigation in challenging operating environments is advancing towards commercialisation.
Northrop Grumman, a leading global aerospace and defence technology company, partnered with Adelaide University and Adelaide-based manufacturer Norseld Photonics to develop Hollow Core Optical Fibres. These fibres are a key component of Fibre Optic Gyroscopes used in defence and aerospace navigation systems and represent a significant advancement in next-generation inertial navigation technologies.
At this week’s Land Forces event in Perth, the companies announced that the project will move from research to commercialisation, creating opportunities for South Australian suppliers and strengthening Australia’s sovereign industrial capability.
Northrop Grumman Australia Country Executive Rob Denney said the project has been a great example of how collaboration between government, industry and research can deliver real outcomes for Australia’s sovereign defence capabilities.
“We’re proud to work alongside Adelaide University and Norseld Photonics to advance this world-leading technology,” Mr Denney said.
“We look forward to taking this from a research concept to a manufacturing-ready product, and the opportunity to scale this innovation for national and global defence applications.”
Adelaide University’s Dr Erik Schartner credited the team from the university’s Institute for Photonics, Advanced Sensing and Quantum Technologies for developing the fibres and engineering them specifically for inertial navigation, which is key to reducing the risk of errors occurring.
“Hollow-core fibres guide light in air rather than glass, which greatly reduces many of the error sources that limit conventional fibre-optic gyroscopes,” Dr Schartner said.
“That could allow next-generation gyroscopes to stay accurate for longer when GPS is jammed or unavailable.”
Prior to the commercialisation phase, Adelaide University and Northrop Grumman successfully completed a proof-of-concept demonstration under the Australian Government’s Defence Trailblazer program, which aims to accelerate university research into defence-relevant technologies and commercial outcomes.
Adelaide-based manufacturer Norseld Photonics joined the partnership, bringing expertise in precision optical design, development, engineering, manufacturing and support solutions in Australia.
Building on the success of the project, the partnership secured follow-on funding earlier this year through Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) program, a $1.6 billion Australian Government initiative designed to translate university research into commercially viable innovations.
Norseld Photonics and Adelaide University were among the more than 60 South Australian organisations exhibiting at Land Forces as part of the South Australia – The Defence State stand.
