Collins Aerospace - Military Global Positioning

What Collins Aerospace - Military Global Positioning does

Collins Aerospace - Military Global Positioning is the military navigation and Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) franchise within Collins Aerospace, itself an operating segment of RTX Corporation (NYSE: RTX). The business designs and builds military-grade GPS receivers, inertial navigation systems, antennas, precision landing systems, and open-architecture PNT integration products used across fixed-wing aircraft, rotary-wing platforms, unmanned systems, ground vehicles, naval vessels, and undersea platforms. Its product portfolio spans airborne systems (M-Code GPS antennas and receivers, JPALS precision landing, Athena 411 integrated flight control, Micro INS), ground systems (NavHub GNSS, MAPS Gen II, MSAS-100 multi-sensor antenna, ATNAVICS air traffic management), specialized underwater navigation (ArtemisPro-M), and tactical radios (AN/ARN-147, TCN-500 TACAN), all engineered around jamming resistance, M-Code secure GPS, and resilience in GPS-denied environments.

The technology base rests on a Modular Open Systems Approach (Mosarc, COSMC) that integrates M-Code GPS with inertial solutions and complementary PNT sources, validated through the November 2024 R-EGI program flight demonstrations with the U.S. Air Force at Holloman AFB. Collins generates revenue primarily through defense hardware sales and contract-funded program development with the U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and defense prime contractors, with an enterprise field-sales go-to-market supported by a global footprint across 30+ countries and dedicated engineering, manufacturing, and test operations in Charlotte (HQ) and Cedar Rapids. Customers are predominantly defense agencies and prime contractors, with commercial and business aviation as adjacent verticals; the franchise does not disclose standalone revenue but operates as a major contributor within RTX, which reported FY2023 consolidated revenue of $68.9 billion.

Name

Collins Aerospace - Military Global Positioning

Legal name

Collins Aerospace (operating segment of RTX Corporation)

Website

https://collinsaerospace.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Collins Aerospace - Military Global Positioning designs and builds military-grade GPS, inertial navigation, and PNT systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, allied militaries, and defense prime contractors across air, land, sea, and undersea platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Military Navigation Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Guidance, Navigation & Control (GNC) Electronics for Weapons (IMABAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

UAS Payloads (EO/IR, LiDAR, SAR, SIGINT) & Gimbals (IMABAIAI), UAS Integration, Certification & Compliance Systems (Remote ID, Detect-and-Avoid) (IMABAIAO)

Keywords

• Military GPS navigation
• Inertial navigation systems
• M-Code GPS receivers
• Precision approach landing
• Resilient positioning navigation timing

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Defense Hardware Sales: Sale of military-grade GPS, inertial navigation systems, and related avionics hardware to defense agencies and prime contractors. Revenue generated through government defense contracts for platforms including aircraft, ground vehicles, and maritime vessels.
2. Defense Program Development: Contract revenue from government-sponsored defense programs like the R-EGI program, developing next-generation military navigation systems with government-owned open architecture.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Collins Aerospace designs, manufactures, and supports military-grade GPS antennas and receivers, inertial navigation systems, and integrated positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) solutions for airborne, ground, underwater, and unmanned military platforms. The portfolio includes the NavHub family, MAPS Gen II, MSAS-100, ArtemisPro-M, MINS, Athena flight control systems, JPALS precision landing systems, and the R-EGI program, sold to defense agencies and prime contractors globally.

Product overview

Collins Aerospace - Military Global Positioning provides a comprehensive portfolio of military navigation systems including ground-based GNSS navigation systems (NavHub™ family, MAPS Gen II, MSAS-100), specialized underwater navigation (ArtemisPro-M with M-Code GPS), airborne GPS and inertial navigation systems (MINS, Athena family), precision landing systems (JPALS), and radio navigation equipment. The R-EGI program demonstrates Collins' open systems approach, integrating M-Code GPS with inertial solutions for rapid PNT capability deployment. These products serve fighter aircraft, transport aircraft, rotary-wing platforms, UAS, ground vehicles, and naval vessels requiring secure, jam-resistant positioning and timing capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FlightHub™: Connected cockpit flight management and tracking solution
• GlobalConnect℠
• InteliSight™
• Airshow®
• Venue™
• eConnect™
• Pro Line Fusion®
• ACES 5®
• Tailwind®
• HeliSure™
• Mosarc™
• FasTAK™
• ARINC
• ARINCDirect℠
• Ascentia®

Products and services

• NavHub GNSS Navigation System A ground-based GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) navigation system providing positioning, navigation, and timing capabilities for military applications.
• NavHub-100 Navigation System A ground-based navigation system designed for military operations requiring precise positioning and timing capabilities.
• ArtemisPro-M (M-Code GPS) Military Underwater Navigation System An M-Code GPS-enabled military underwater navigation system designed for submarine and underwater vehicle positioning.
• Mounted Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing System (MAPS) Gen II A mounted system providing assured PNT capabilities for military ground vehicles, ensuring reliable positioning and timing in contested environments.
• Multi-Sensor Antenna System (MSAS-100) A multi-sensor antenna system supporting multiple navigation inputs for enhanced positioning accuracy and reliability.
• GPS Antennas and Receivers Military-grade GPS antennas and receivers providing secure, jam-resistant positioning capabilities for airborne platforms.
• Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS) A precision approach and landing system for military aircraft, supporting operations on land and sea-based platforms including the Expeditionary JPALS variant.
• Athena 411 Integrated Flight Control System An integrated flight control system combining navigation, guidance, and control capabilities for military aircraft.
• Athena GS111R UAS Autopilot/ADAHRS/PNT Hub A compact autopilot, attitude heading reference system, and positioning navigation timing hub designed for unmanned aircraft systems.
• Micro INS - MINS A micro-sized inertial navigation system providing precise positioning and attitude reference for military applications.
• Air Traffic Navigation, Integration, and Coordination System (ATNAVICS) A comprehensive air traffic navigation, integration, and coordination system for military airspace management.
• Resilient-Embedded GPS/INS (R-EGI) A government-owned open architecture navigation system combining GPS and inertial navigation with M-Code capability, designed for rapid integration of complementary positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) sources on military aircraft.
• AN/ARN-147(V) VOR/ILS/GS/MB Receiver Military-grade VOR, ILS, glideslope, and marker beacon receiver for aircraft navigation and landing approaches.
• TCN-500 / AN/ARN-153(V) Advanced Digital TACAN Receiver-Transmitter Advanced digital TACAN (Tactical Air Navigation) receiver-transmitter for military aircraft tactical navigation.
• ADS-3000 Air Data System Military air data system providing critical flight parameters including altitude, airspeed, and vertical speed for combat and transport aircraft.

Quantifiable outcome

• R-EGI program milestone completed in under 8 months with four comprehensive test flights

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IS4ScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2024Industry partner in the R-EGI (Resilient-Embedded GPS/INS) program, contributing to modular open systems architecture development for military positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capabilities. The team completed the milestone in under eight months.
• Kearfott CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2024Industry partner in the R-EGI program, collaborating on government-owned open architecture and technical data packages for military navigation systems including M-Code GPS integration and inertial solutions.
• General Dynamics-Mission SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2024Industry partner in the R-EGI program, participating in the demonstration of modular open systems architecture for PNT capabilities on C-12J aircraft at Holloman Air Force Base.
• TrimblecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 November 2024Industry partner contributing complementary PNT sources to the R-EGI program, supporting rapid integration of positioning, navigation, and timing solutions for military applications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Honeywell Aerospace: Large diversified avionics supplier with extensive military and commercial inertial navigation, GPS and embedded PNT products, including recent investments in resilient/alternative PNT — a broad incumbent competing across overlapping programs.
• Raytheon: Sister RTX business with broad defense electronics, anti-jam GPS receivers and missile guidance capabilities — competes on some PNT adjacencies (e.g., weapons GNC, electronic warfare) while sharing platform-level access through the RTX parent.
• Thales Group: European defense electronics incumbent offering military GNSS receivers, inertial navigation and resilient PNT solutions for allied air, land and naval platforms — comparable on product, competing in different geographies.
• Leonardo: Italian-headquartered defense and aerospace group with a meaningful military avionics, navigation and electronics portfolio that overlaps Collins' offerings on allied platforms, particularly in Europe and the Middle East.

Direct peers

• Northrop Grumman: Supplies military inertial navigation systems (e.g., LN-200 family), GPS/INS units and embedded navigation for U.S. and allied platforms, competing head-to-head on airborne and ground-vehicle PNT programs.
• Kearfott Corporation: Specialized supplier of military inertial navigation systems, gyros and accelerometers — R-EGI partner and direct competitor on airborne and ground-vehicle INS programs.
• General Dynamics Mission Systems: Core partner on R-EGI and fielded supplier of military GPS/PNT and assured-positioning products for U.S. DoD — competes directly on multi-vendor DoD PNT programs while also collaborating on open-architecture efforts.
• BAE Systems: Offers military GPS receivers, anti-jam antennas and integrated INS products for U.S. and allied forces, including direct overlap with M-Code GPS and assured-PNT programs.
• L3Harris Technologies: Major U.S. defense prime with a deep portfolio of military GPS receivers, inertial navigation systems, and assured-PNT solutions — the closest direct competitor to Collins' military GPS/PNT line across air, ground and maritime domains.

Regional players

• Safran: French-headquartered aerospace group with inertial navigation, optronics and PNT-related products serving European and allied military markets — comparable technology overlap but primarily non-U.S. focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/collinsaero
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@RTXCorporation
• Facebookfacebook.com/collinsaerospace
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/collins-aerospace
• Instagraminstagram.com/rtxcorporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Collins Aerospace - Military Global Positioning