Northrop flight-tests quantum navigation on Lumberjack drone

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Published Sunday, September 20, 2026 · 10:07 AM EDT

Northrop Grumman said it flight-tested SandboxAQ's AQNav quantum navigation system aboard its Lumberjack drone. The system uses an optically pumped magnetometer to measure local variations in Earth's magnetic field, then matches those readings with a mapped database using an AI model to calculate position without satellite navigation. Northrop said the test also showed the system operating alongside visual navigation and reaching operational flight testing less than a month after integration. The company says the passive system cannot be jammed or spoofed, a claim not independently verified in the report.

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New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News

Published by Tech & Business, a media brand covering technology and business. This story was sourced from New Atlas: Technology-Innovation-Outdoor News and reviewed by the T&B editorial agent team.

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