Northrop Grumman Developing Next Generation Inertial Sensor for US Navy

June 15, 2023

The Northrop Grumman-built AN/WSN-12 Inertial Sensor Module provides accurate positioning data with or without GPS for Navy ships and submarines. (Image: U.S. Navy)

The U.S. Navy awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a new production contract for the new AN/WSN-12 Inertial Sensor Module (ISM). Northrop Grumman’s AN/WSN-12 ISM is a next-generation sensor that significantly improves maritime navigation in Global Positioning System (GPS) denied environments for surface ships and submarines.

“The new AN/WSN-12 Inertial Navigator System will deliver more precision and performance for the warfighter while occupying the same footprint as its predecessor.” said Todd Leavitt, Vice President, Naval and Oceanic systems, Northrop Grumman. “This allows upgrades to be made on existing systems where space is at a premium.”

The new AN/WSN-12 ISM is a key component of the U.S. Navy’s AN/WSN-12 Inertial Navigator System (INS), upgrading the Northrop Grumman built AN/WSN-7 INS. The WSN-7 is on nearly every ship in the U.S. Navy and has been the program of record for more than two decades. Surface ships and submarines rely heavily on the positioning data provided by GPS for navigation, for safety at sea and to fire weapons. The AN/WSN-12 ISM provides highly accurate positioning data with or without GPS, a key component to establishing Assured Position, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT) maritime solutions. The first ISM will be fielded later this year.

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