What Cast Navigation does

CAST Navigation, LLC designs, manufactures, and supports GNSS and inertial navigation system (INS) simulation systems used by military and commercial customers for laboratory and field testing of navigation hardware and software. Founded in 1981 as Computing Applications Software Technology (CAST) in Los Alamitos, California and now headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, the company has built a 40+ year track record supplying simulation equipment to U.S. defense primes including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Honeywell, as well as government customers such as the United States Coast Guard. Its product portfolio centers on the CAST-GNSS, CAST-CRPA, CAST-Inertial, CAST-Jammer, and CAST-5000 platforms, which together generate multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS RF signals (GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, SBAS, including classified Y-Code, SAASM, M-Code AES, and MNSA), phase-coherent wavefronts for Controlled Radiation Pattern Antenna (CRPA) testing, high-fidelity inertial data streams, and jamming/interference scenarios. Underlying these products is proprietary Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) signal-generation technology and a proprietary synchronization layer that achieves sub-2 mm phase alignment across multiple RF output elements.

CAST's revenue model combines high-value, one-time system sales with modular expansion revenue (additional RF elements, signal types, jamming, inertial, and terrain obscuration options) and recurring maintenance, software upgrade, and training services under multi-year contracts. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales, with tailored configuration, training, and ongoing engineering support provided by navigation systems engineers; the company also markets via industry conferences (ION ITM, ION GNSS+, IEEE/ION PLANS, JNC), technical white papers, brochures, and social channels. Customer segments are primarily military and defense (EGI testers, CRPA system integrators, UAV and aircraft navigation programs), commercial aerospace and navigation, and research institutions. On March 30, 2026, CAST Navigation was acquired by Spirent Federal Systems, part of Keysight Technologies, and now operates as a subsidiary within Keysight's positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) test portfolio.

Name

Cast Navigation

Legal name

CAST Navigation, LLC

Website

https://castnav.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAST Navigation designs and manufactures GNSS and inertial navigation simulation systems used by U.S. defense primes, government agencies, and commercial aerospace customers for laboratory and field testing of navigation hardware and software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

GNSS/INS Simulation Systems

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL)

Keywords

• GNSS simulation systems
• Navigation test equipment
• CRPA antenna testing
• Inertial navigation simulation
• GPS signal generation

Headquarters

HQ city

Tewksbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. GNSS/INS Simulation Systems: CAST Navigation generates revenue through the sale of specialized GNSS/INS simulation systems to military and commercial customers. These are high-value, configurable systems that can be expanded with additional capabilities (GNSS, CRPA, Inertial, Jamming modules). Revenue is generated from initial system purchases, with additional revenue from system options, upgrades, and maintenance programs.
2. System Options and Expansions: Customers can expand their CAST simulator solutions with additional Signal, Inertial, Terrain Obscuration, and Signal Interference capabilities. Additional RF output elements and CRPA testing capabilities can be added to existing systems.
3. Maintenance and Support Services: CAST offers extensive maintenance programs covering all hardware and software, including warranty extensions, software upgrades, and technical support. Training services are also provided for customer teams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CAST Navigation designs, manufactures, and sells GNSS/INS simulation systems that produce precise and repeatable RF signals for laboratory and field testing of navigation receivers and integrated navigation systems. The systems support multi-frequency, multi-constellation signal generation (GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, SBAS), CRPA phased-array antenna testing, INS simulation, and jammer/interference emulation for military and commercial customers. Products are configured to customer requirements and sold as standalone hardware/software systems with maintenance and training services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAST-GNSS: Multi-frequency, multi-constellation GNSS RF signal generation simulator
• CAST-Inertial
• CAST-CRPA
• CAST-Jammer
• CAST-5000
• SGX
• EGIT
• EMT

Products and services

• CAST-GNSS Simulator

Quantifiable outcome

• Dynamic testing capability: Velocity >60,000 m/s, Acceleration ±150,000 m/s², Jerk ±150,000 m/s³
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Spirent Federal Systems (Keysight Technologies)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Spirent Federal Systems, now part of Keysight Technologies, acquired CAST Navigation on March 30, 2026. The acquisition combines Spirent Federal's global leadership in advancing resilient PNT with CAST's specialized expertise in inertial testing to deliver high-fidelity GNSS and inertial navigation system emulation. Keysight acquired Spirent Federal in October 2025.
• BoeingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing professional relationship spanning over 40 years with Boeing, working together on GNSS/INS simulation solutions.
• Northrop GrummancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAST has a long-term partnership with Northrop Grumman (formerly Litton) dating back to 1996 for EGI testing. CAST worked closely with Northrop Grumman to assure inertial modeling and timing for LN-100, LN-200, LN-251, LN-260 navigation units. CAST also developed exclusive arrangements for EGIT testing with both Honeywell and Litton.
• HoneywellcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCAST has a long-term partnership with Honeywell dating back to 1996 for EGI testing. CAST developed exclusive arrangements for EGIT testing with Honeywell, supporting H764G, HG-1700, HG-1900, NAV-100, and GGP products. CAST worked closely with Honeywell to assure inertial modeling and timing of the CAST EGIT.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Spirent Communications: Global leader in GNSS and PNT simulation test equipment. Spirent's GSS series directly competes with CAST's GNSS/CRPA simulators in defense and commercial test labs; Spirent Federal (now part of Keysight) is the acquirer of CAST, making it the closest direct peer.
• VIAVI Solutions: Provides GNSS test and simulation solutions (e.g., GPS/GNSS simulators for device and module validation). Comparable to CAST in serving wireless and aerospace test labs that need multi-constellation RF signal generation.
• Rohde & Schwarz: Provides the SMBV100A and related GNSS simulator product lines used by aerospace and defense customers for receiver and CRPA testing. Overlaps with CAST in multi-frequency, multi-constellation RF signal generation for lab and field test.
• Safran (Orolia / Safran Trusted 4D): Offers resilient PNT simulation and test equipment, including GNSS simulators and CRPA/anti-jam test solutions for defense. Directly comparable to CAST in serving military PNT verification and integrated inertial/GNSS test workflows.
• Hexagon (NovAtel): Manufactures GNSS receivers and GNSS simulation/record-playback tools used to test high-precision positioning and CRPA systems. Overlaps with CAST in GNSS test signal generation and receiver verification for aerospace/defense.

Broad incumbents

• Collins Aerospace (Rockwell Collins): Major avionics prime and long-time partner/customer-adjacent to CAST, supplying GPS signal generator boards historically and developing integrated GNSS/INS navigation systems. Comparable as both an avionics incumbent and a stakeholder in the same EGI/CRPA ecosystem.
• Keysight Technologies: Parent of Spirent Federal and broader electronic test & measurement incumbent across wireless, aerospace, and defense. Provides scale and distribution for CAST's technology post-acquisition; overlaps broadly in avionics and PNT test.
• National Instruments (NI / Emerson): Provides modular PXI-based RF test platforms and software-defined instrumentation used in GNSS receiver and navigation system test. Overlaps with CAST in lab-based RF test, though via a more general-purpose instrumentation model.

Emerging players

• Jackson Labs Technologies: Smaller specialist in GNSS/INS simulation, PNT test equipment, and resilient timing products. Comparable to CAST in targeting niche defense and commercial PNT testing with focused, lower-scale product lines.
• Syntony GNSS: European-based GNSS simulator provider focused on software-defined and embedded simulation, including for rail, aviation, and defense. Partial overlap with CAST in multi-constellation signal generation with a more software-centric delivery model.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/castnavigation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cast-navigation-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cast Navigation