Q-CTRL has announced that it will showcase its quantum navigation technology at the Farnborough International Airshow.
The company says it is the only dedicated quantum technology firm exhibiting a commercial quantum GPS solution at the event. The system is designed to provide a dependable backup when GPS signals become unavailable or unreliable.
The announcement follows a series of successful flight, land, and maritime trials completed by the company. Q-CTRL says it has become the first company to publicly validate and commercialize quantum navigation technology. Its Ironstone Opal system has also received airworthiness qualification under the RTCA DO-160 standard, an important certification used for aviation equipment.
Growing Navigation Challenges
The need for reliable alternatives to GPS has grown rapidly in recent years. Electronic warfare, signal jamming, and spoofing have disrupted navigation systems in conflict zones such as Ukraine and the Persian Gulf. These incidents have highlighted the risks of relying entirely on satellite-based positioning.
The problem is no longer limited to military operations. Commercial airlines now experience more than 1,500 flights per day affected by GPS interference. This has led the International Air Transport Association and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to identify GPS interference as a major aviation safety concern.
Pilot organizations have also urged aircraft manufacturers and regulators to strengthen navigation systems. They want backup technologies that continue working even when satellite signals are blocked or manipulated. These concerns have increased interest in alternative navigation methods that operate independently of GPS.
How Quantum GPS System Works
Quantum navigation determines an aircraft’s position without relying on satellite signals. Instead, it uses highly sensitive quantum sensors that measure tiny changes in Earth’s magnetic field. The system compares those measurements with detailed magnetic maps to identify its location.
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Q-CTRL calls this technology Ironstone Opal. According to the company, the system provides drift-free positioning by using magnetic map matching supported by its proprietary quantum sensors. This approach reduces the gradual positioning errors that often affect traditional navigation systems operating without GPS.
The company says Ironstone Opal has demonstrated the ability to meet the aviation industry’s Required Navigation Performance 0.3 standard. During flight testing, it maintained positioning accuracy within 0.3 nautical miles for 95 percent of a flight. That level of precision supports critical phases of commercial aviation, including approaches and landings.
Aviation Ready Platform
Ironstone Opal has achieved safety-of-flight qualification under the RTCA DO-160 airworthiness standard. This certification confirms that aviation equipment can withstand demanding environmental conditions, including vibration, temperature changes, and electrical disturbances. It also helps demonstrate that the technology is suitable for use on aircraft.
The system is available in multiple compact configurations. Q-CTRL recently introduced a version weighing less than one kilogram for unmanned aerial vehicles. The sensors can be mounted inside an aircraft or attached to the wings of NATO Class II and larger surveillance drones.
The company also states that the system is ITAR-free, making international deployment easier in many markets. This allows customers outside the United States to access the technology without some of the export restrictions that apply to defense-related products. The feature may increase adoption among commercial operators and allied defense organizations.
Industry Impact Ahead
Q-CTRL says it is working with major commercial aircraft manufacturers, defense companies, and defense-sector partners, including the US Department of War. These collaborations reflect growing demand for navigation technologies that remain reliable during GPS disruption. The company first publicly revealed Ironstone Opal in April 2025 before expanding testing across multiple aircraft types.
Q-CTRL Founder and CEO Michael J. Biercuk said the company transformed quantum navigation from laboratory research into a practical aviation solution in just over a year.
He said extensive testing on airplanes, helicopters, and drones helped prepare the system for commercial deployment. Biercuk added that the growing economic cost of GPS disruption makes the availability of certified backup navigation technology increasingly important.
Ironstone Opal was also named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, highlighting its growing recognition within the technology industry. As GPS interference continues to affect military and civilian operations, quantum navigation is emerging as a practical option for improving resilience. Wider adoption of certified systems such as Ironstone Opal may strengthen aviation safety and support more reliable navigation across global airspace.
