Thales today announced a breakthrough technology – the creation of a new Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) in its TopAxyz product line that uses MEMS technology, creating a breakthrough in navigation solutions.
The new unit, built on Thales’ proven TopAxyz IMU technology, is the result of extensive investment not only in research and development but also in advanced production facilities with cutting-edge technology and expertise in inertial navigation. The result is a more resilient navigation system that is more compact (20% smaller), lighter (10% lighter) and consumes less power, thanks to the use of MEMS accelerometers instead of mechanical ones.
World class performance
TopAxyz is the world-class navigation unit on the market today and can be used in a wide range of civil and military applications, such as aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, ground vehicles, weapons, launchers and ships. Proven in combat, the new IMU maintains the same high level of performance, providing accurate location, navigation, attitude and heading information, while offering greater resilience in harsh environments such as high acceleration, vibration, electromagnetic fields and hypervelocity. In commercial aviation, TopAxyz has accumulated 35 million flight hours, demonstrating the best level of accuracy, safety and reliability, even in the most critical conditions.
In recent years, GPS jamming and spoofing operations have become increasingly common, affecting the navigation of civilian and military platforms in all environments – air, land and sea. Therefore, reliable and secure real-time navigation systems that resist these external threats are essential. The new TopAxyz IMU maintains resilient navigation capability despite these threats.
Tecnologic innovation
This innovative design is based on advanced Thales sensors, utilizing a three-axis Ring Laser Gyroscope (RLG) and three digital MEMS accelerometers with a very low mass and form factor, in a single unit. MEMS technology facilitates series production, enabling a rapid increase in production rates. This development will contribute significantly to the growth of production, which has begun with the tripling of capacity currently underway at Thales’ Châtellerault site.
Thales has been a leading player in inertial navigation solutions for over fifty years. This latest-generation Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) capitalizes on the Group’s solid experience in deg high-end Inertial Navigation Systems based on RLG technology.
The first deliveries are scheduled for the beginning of the second half of 2026.
