JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SC -- SandboxAQ, a software company focused on solutions at the intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum technology, demonstrated their Magnetic Navigation technology on a Joint Base Charleston C-17 Globemaster III.
Although the technology had been demonstrated before, the groundbreaking event was the first instance where MagNav was the primary method of navigation in flight.
The Air Force has long been interested in GPS alternatives, given a GPS satellite constellation’s vulnerability to jamming, spoofing, or destruction. These vulnerabilities have become increasingly operationally relevant with GPS jamming recently affecting commercial air traffic flying adjacent to modern combat zones.
In January 2023, the U.S. Air Force awarded SandboxAQ a Direct-to-Phase-II Small Business Innovation Research contract to research quantum navigation. SandboxAQ initially ran flight testing from Travis Air Force Base, Calif. They connected with JB Charleston’s Palmetto Spark Lab at Mobility Guardian 2023, where SandboxAQ was gathering in-flight magnetic data to train their AI model. AQNav is designed to work as an alternative to GPS navigation, determining position by de-noising and calibrating measurements made by quantum magnetometers, then comparing these to a known map of magnetic anomalies.
Facilitated by Palmetto Spark, SandboxAQ met with 437th Airlift Wing leadership in November 2023, and has since gained over 100 hours of data collection on local training sorties at JB Charleston.
The recent demonstration was flown by the 16th Airlift Squadron, with individuals from SandboxAQ, Palmetto Spark, National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA), and AFWERX. Of the five segments flown, three reached RNP1.0 performance, meaning the aircraft was able to calculate its position to within one nautical mile. The AQNav user interface was generating true headings to the next waypoint in real time, allowing the pilots to accurately navigate the aircraft.
Thanks to the Palmetto Spark Lab, JB Charleston continues demonstrate bleeding-edge technology for AMC. This world-first demonstration is a huge step towards developing Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing, which will be crucial in a near-peer fight.