Advanced Navigation
Sydney-based AI navigation and robotics company building inertial navigation and other GPS-denied positioning systems for defense, marine, mining, and autonomous-vehicle applications.
Founded 2012 in Sydney by Xavier Orr and Chris Shaw (University of Western Australia) to commercialize university research on AI-based inertial navigation. Advanced Navigation builds GNSS-denied/resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems for defense (combat-vehicle navigation via Rheinmetall/Hanwha, counter-UAS, ISR), marine/subsea robotics, mining, and autonomous vehicles. Contracted to supply Rheinmetall Defence Australia's Boxer CRV fleet with fibre-optic-gyroscope INS, and holds a Hanwha Defence Australia/Hanwha Aerospace MoU for the Redback IFV. Received an Australian DoD Sovereign Industrial Capability grant (2023) and a National Reconstruction Fund Corporation strategic investment. Acquired photonics firm Vai Photonics in April 2022. Raised US$68M Series B (KKR, 2022) and US$110M Series C (Airtree Ventures, 2026). In 2026 announced a European expansion under new EMEA Managing Director David Leniewski, including a new UK site for sales/engineering/customer support — exact city not yet independently confirmed as of this writing.
Overview
- Headquarters
- Sydney, Australia
- Founded
- 2012
- Employees
- ~198 (aggregator range 194-200, reported)
- Total funding
- $85M+ through Series B (2022); $110M Series C (2026)
- Stage
- Series C
- Status
- active
- Domains
- Inertial navigation, GPS-denied PNT, Subsea robotics
- Website
- www.advancednavigation.com
Founders2
Investors0
No linked records yet.
Cap table0
Approximate ownership by holder. Indexed holders link to their records.
| Holder | Instrument | Ownership |
|---|
Contracts0
No linked records yet.
Programs0
No linked records yet.
Frequently asked
- What does Advanced Navigation do?
- Founded 2012 in Sydney by Xavier Orr and Chris Shaw (University of Western Australia) to commercialize university research on AI-based inertial navigation. Advanced Navigation builds GNSS-denied/resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) systems for defense (combat-vehicle navigation via Rheinmetall/Hanwha, counter-UAS, ISR), marine/subsea robotics, mining, and autonomous vehicles. Contracted to supply Rheinmetall Defence Australia's Boxer CRV fleet with fibre-optic-gyroscope INS, and holds a Hanwha Defence Australia/Hanwha Aerospace MoU for the Redback IFV. Received an Australian DoD Sovereign Industrial Capability grant (2023) and a National Reconstruction Fund Corporation strategic investment. Acquired photonics firm Vai Photonics in April 2022. Raised US$68M Series B (KKR, 2022) and US$110M Series C (Airtree Ventures, 2026). In 2026 announced a European expansion under new EMEA Managing Director David Leniewski, including a new UK site for sales/engineering/customer support — exact city not yet independently confirmed as of this writing.
- Where is Advanced Navigation headquartered?
- Advanced Navigation is headquartered in Sydney, Australia and was founded in 2012.
- How much funding has Advanced Navigation raised?
- Advanced Navigation has raised $85M+ through Series B (2022); $110M Series C (2026) in disclosed funding.
- What does Advanced Navigation specialize in?
- Advanced Navigation works across Inertial navigation, GPS-denied PNT, Subsea robotics.
Sources & citations4
Each claim links to its underlying source. Confidence reflects how directly the source supports the claim.
- 1
Advanced Navigation Series B: US$68M (AUD 108M) led by KKR
Advanced Navigation: KKR leads US$68 million Series B funding roundVerified2022-11-17 - 2
Advanced Navigation Series C: US$110M led by Airtree Ventures, with Quadrant Private Equity and NRFC
Advanced Navigation: Advanced Navigation secures US$110M Series CVerified2026-03-17 - 3
Advanced Navigation supports Rheinmetall Defence Australia with FOG INS for Boxer CRV, Australia's largest-ever defence export in the category
Advanced Navigation: Advanced Navigation Supports Rheinmetall with Australia's Largest-Ever Defense ExportVerified2026-01-01 - 4
Advanced Navigation appoints David Leniewski as EMEA Managing Director, announces European expansion
Advanced Navigation: Europe Expansion with High-Profile Military AppointmentVerified2026-06-16