Edge Autonomy Hosts Ribbon Cutting at Expanded Office in Huntsville, Alabama

Electronic warfare (EW) is pervasive in modern battlespaces, so how can we ensure that missions remain flexible and successful when a single, all-encompassing solution to GPS and GNSS interference does not currently exist?

“Even the quest for a silver bullet to solve the problem of GPS interference is a flawed concept,” says Allen Gardner, Chief Technology Officer at Edge Autonomy, a leading provider and OEM of autonomous uncrewed aircraft systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions.

“The more effective tactic is to have the capacity to quickly incorporate new innovations to augment your solution. “As new technology emerges, you integrate. As the adversary changes, you adapt.”

The Increasing Rise of Interference

The deliberate jamming of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS)—when a competing signal broadcasts “noise” that overpowers the GNSS/GPS signal, rendering it unusable—is a routine challenge to military and commercial operations alike.

While slightly more difficult to execute, signal spoofing—when an adversary broadcasts on the same signal to confuse data, resulting in inaccurate positioning or time—is no less threatening to mission success.

Both spoofing and jamming are on the rise – in both battle zones and commercial aviation – and must be actively addressed to maintain an upper hand and ensure that aircraft and weapons are not compromised.

The electronic warfare market had an estimated value of $18.45B in 2024 and is expected to reach $27.35B by 2031¹. With EW strategies presenting a constant threat—one capable of immense financial and strategic damage—it is critical that we explore a wide range of options to keep this threat at bay.

Electronic Warfare and Real-World Implications

From Finland to Poland to Turkey – and of course in the Ukraine conflict – Eastern Europe has seen GNSS and GPS interference become a significant disruptor.

Russian jamming of satellite-guided weapons has had a significant impact on Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory, decreasing the effectiveness of existing solutions and sending military officials on a renewed hunt for newer and more sophisticated technology².

“When you’re facing an adversary who will stop at nothing to interfere with your mission and endanger the men and women defending freedom on the front lines it is imperative that we bring every available resource into play to protect our allies, whether they are foreign or domestic,” says Tuna Djemil, Vice President of Business Development & Strategy for Edge Autonomy. “The battlefield is constantly evolving, which means we innovate in step with real-world mission needs.”

Adaptation and Integration at the Speed of the Modern Battlefield

As geopolitical crises escalate, so will the complications caused by GPS/GNSS interference. Emerging drone warfare will perpetuate jamming and spoofing attacks as uncrewed aircraft and autonomous vehicles play an increasingly central role in current conflicts.

Despite the lack of a silver bullet solution to GPS/GNSS interference, defending military operations while increasing mission flexibility in the face of mounting EW is possible. How can the U.S. military, NATO, and other allies maintain an edge over insidious adversaries?

Rapid adaptation is a must as we confront the widespread EW threats that exist in today’s battlespaces. By developing new technologies that are not dependent on GPS/GNSS – including solutions that utilize position, navigation, and timing (PNT) – we can stay ahead of nefarious spoofing and jamming techniques.

Beyond GPS: Advances in Position, Navigation, and Timing for Maximum UAS Flexibility

PNT technologies serve to augment and complement GPS and range from self-contained navigation techniques to radar sensing to advanced tracking solutions through Artificial Intelligence to front-end cyber solutions and beyond.

“The key is flexibility,” explains Djemil. “This interference game of cat-and-mouse calls for the ability to quickly pivot existing technology, adapt new technology, and keep your finger on the pulse of how to combine the two in order to thwart our adversaries.”

Modularity to Meet Mission Needs

Why is adaptability so critical to advanced navigation systems capable of withstanding the constant threat of GPS/GNSS interference? While several reliable defenses do exist for the UAS and their navigation, none are effective in every circumstance or environment. Adapting a modular open systems approach (MOSA) means that rather than relying on a single technology, users can augment and build upon the base system over time as new technologies become available.

The most EW-resilient UAS will be aircraft capable of seamlessly integrating the new and ever-evolving defensive technologies that arise to counter debilitating attacks. Advanced platforms like a PNT fusion engine ensure accuracy by combining data from multiple sensors for reliable, robust, and accurate position and time determination, even in environments where GPS signals may be either interfered with or unavailable.

“When a UAS can combine multiple GPS-denied technologies so that the strength of one overcomes the weaknesses of another, what you get is an adaptable and uniquely robust solution,” Gardner explains.

Edge Autonomy’s Battle Proven Stalker UAS

Rather than rely on a single technology, Edge Autonomy’s Stalker uncrewed system can fly in GPS/GNSS-denied environments by employing a PNT fusion engine that interfaces with multiple technologies (both current and future), uniting them in a navigation solution that provides the warfighter with the data needed to make decisions quickly and accurately to meet mission needs even in a rapidly changing environment.

The modular architecture of the Stalker design provides the agility needed to pivot quickly, advancing the mission no matter the circumstance.

“Intentional awareness of real-world adversarial threats uniquely positions us to come alongside our customers,” says Joshua Stinson, Chief Growth Officer at Edge Autonomy. “We designed the Stalker with maximum flexibility in mind, knowing that the ability to integrate new technologies and adapt to emerging threats, especially when it comes to electronic warfare, is vital for mission success in today’s dynamic environments.”

Learn more about the battle proven Stalker, and how a modular open systems approach can positively impact positioning, navigation, and timing – even under contested or austere circumstances:

¹https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/industry-reports/electronic-warfare-market

²https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2024-05-24/russian-jamming-high-tech-weapons-ukraine-13964032.html

The Edge Autonomy Huntsville office is the company’s fifth location nationwide and is home to highly skilled technical personnel with a focus on advanced engineering, robotics, and composites manufacturing.

May 20, 2024 – Huntsville, AL – Edge Autonomy, a leading provider of uncrewed autonomous systems, hosted a ribbon cutting event to commemorate the expanded services of the company’s Huntsville, Alabama facility. This office has been operational for the past 10 months, facilitating support to domestic and international customers while contributing to the technological and economic growth of northern Alabama. In response to an increasing demand for Edge Autonomy products and services, the Huntsville facility is expanding production capabilities in the second half of 2024.

The Edge Autonomy Huntsville office is the company’s fifth location nationwide and is home to highly skilled technical personnel with a focus on advanced engineering, robotics, and composites manufacturing. With an important customer footprint in northern Alabama, this also positions the company to respond rapidly to emerging requirements.

“Our work with the US government, FVEY, and NATO partners has created more than 40 full-time positions at our Huntsville facility within the last year alone,” said Joshua Stinson, Chief Growth Officer of Edge Autonomy. “The Huntsville area has phenomenal resources to support the fast-growing technology sector, which will greatly facilitate the advancement of our uncrewed technology development and production.”

Edge Autonomy has invested a significant amount of capital expenditure in its Huntsville operations in the past year. The company plans further expansion and will double the size of its Alabama facility to 68,000ft² by the end of the third quarter of 2024.

“We are in an exciting time of growth,” said Steve Adlich, Chief of Staff for Edge Autonomy. “While we continue to meet increasing production needs for our uncrewed aircraft and optical ISR solutions, we will also grow our Huntsville headcount.

Edge Autonomy hosted guests for the ribbon cutting ceremony, including Congressman Dale Strong, Mayor Tommy Battle, Huntsville Chamber of Commerce and other distinguished guests. After opening remarks, guests were able to tour the Huntsville facility, where they learned more about Edge Autonomy’s operations and further expansion efforts to support global customers.

“I’m honored to help cut the ribbon for Edge Autonomy’s new Huntsville location,” said Congressman Dale Strong. “They are doing crucial work to support American servicemembers with the most innovative capabilities while also benefitting our local economy by bringing new jobs, ideas, and dollars to North Alabama.”

Representative Strong serves as congressman for Alabama’s Fifth Congressional District and has also received assignments to serve on the House Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Science, Space and Technology Committees for the 118th Congress.

Edge Autonomy’s growth and success has had an enormous economic impact throughout Madison County and the surrounding area, all while supporting the warfighter with advanced uncrewed technologies to ensure they fulfill national security objectives and maintain a superior advantage over our nation’s adversaries. We stand behind our warfighters, present and future, and remain committed to those who have served and sacrificed for our freedom. Edge Autonomy is dedicated to supporting the growth of our local communities and the nation as a whole.

About Edge Autonomy

Edge Autonomy is a leader in providing innovative autonomous systems, advanced optics, and resilient energy solutions to the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Federal Civilian Agencies, allied governments, academic institutions, and commercial entities. We believe that innovation – in all forms, from all sources, and at all stages of development – creates solutions that enable mission success. Our uncrewed technologies are used in nearly 80 countries by government, commercial, and academic customers.

Edge Autonomy has a team of 600 employees and draws on nearly four decades of proven aerospace engineering, manufacturing expertise, and advanced technology. With headquarters in San Luis Obispo, CA and nearly 300,000 square feet of manufacturing and production capabilities across the U.S. and abroad, Edge Autonomy’s experienced team delivers mission-focused results around the world.