Safran SkyNaute navigation system selected for Airbus A220

The inertial navigation system, already used by European armed forces, has been selected for the A220 and maintains a precise trajectory when GNSS signals are jammed or spoofed.

SkyNaute, the inertial navigation system developed by Safran Electronics & Defense, is entering commercial aviation on board the Airbus A220. By combining inertial navigation with hybridised satellite navigation (GNSS) data, the system ensures the aircraft maintains a precise and reliable trajectory in all circumstances.

SkyNaute has already been selected for military aircraft, helicopters and drones operated by several European armed forces. Its key contribution to commercial air transport comes from the defence world: resistance to interference. SkyNaute maintains a highly accurate trajectory even when GNSS signals are unavailable, jammed or spoofed. This capability has become essential for civil aviation, which faces a growing number of such disruptions in several regions of the world.

This performance relies on proven technologies, first and foremost the hemispherical resonator gyroscope (HRG) patented by Safran Electronics & Defense. With no mechanical parts subject to wear, the sensor offers high compactness and resilience in harsh environments. SkyNaute’s reduced weight, size and power consumption mean simpler installation and weight savings on board for airlines, while meeting the most stringent safety requirements of commercial air transport.

Benjamin Declety, Head of the Avionics Global Business Unit at Safran Electronics & Defense, says: “Seeing SkyNaute take its place on board the Airbus A220 is a source of immense pride for our teams: for the first time, our inertial navigation system will fly on an airliner.”

The HRG is fully developed and industrialised in Montluçon, in central France. In June 2026, Safran Electronics & Defense committed €120 million to expand and modernise the site, tripling its HRG production capacity from 10,000 to 30,000 units per year by 2032.

The A220 selection confirms SkyNaute’s ability to adapt to aircraft with very different integration constraints. The system has already been installed on helicopters subject to strong vibrations and wide temperature variations, on military aircraft exposed to shocks and jamming attempts, as well as on drones that require high navigation accuracy and strong resistance to electromagnetic interference.