Navigation is the invisible backbone of modern defence, aerospace, and civilian life. For decades, India has relied on external systems, creating vulnerabilities during critical moments. That is about to change.
On November 27, 2025, in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, a quiet revolution in India’s technological landscape took a decisive step forward. The inauguration of the Ananth Centre of Excellence for Navigation (ACEN) — India’s first private-sector hub dedicated exclusively to navigation technologies — marked a pivotal moment in the nation’s pursuit of strategic autonomy. Established by Ananth Technologies Limited (ATL), a company with three decades of contributions to India’s space and defence programmes, ACEN represents a bold commitment to eliminating long-standing dependencies on foreign navigation systems.
The ceremony drew senior officials from defence, space, and academic institutions, underscoring the national importance of advancing indigenous navigation capability. ISRO Chairman V Narayanan, who inaugurated the facility, said he was pleased to see private companies stepping into the complex work of building navigation systems for spacecraft and defence, adding that their efforts would support the vision of making India a developed nation by 2047.
ACEN’s establishment signals a strategic pivot: the creation of an indigenous, resilient navigation ecosystem capable of operating independently of external constellations
“When we talk about Viksit Bharat 2047, it is our responsibility to ensure no imports are required. Navigation is a very critical area, and ISRO alone cannot develop it. So I am extremely happy that in Thiruvananthapuram, Ananth Technologies has entered this field,” said Narayanan.
Dr Subba Rao Pavuluri, Chairman and Managing Director of Ananth Technologies, framed the centre’s mission in broader strategic terms: “A nation that controls its navigation capabilities holds supremacy in domains ranging from maritime operations to precision strikes.” He referenced operational contexts — such as the requirement for pinpoint accuracy in high-stakes missions — as imperatives for navigational sovereignty.
Why Navigational Independence is Critical
Navigation, often described as the invisible backbone of modern warfare, aerospace and civilian infrastructure, has historically been a domain where India has been constrained by external reliance. Satellite-based positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems underpin everything from missile guidance and submarine operations to commercial aviation and logistics. For years, the country has depended on foreign systems, leaving it vulnerable to deliberate signal denials or disruptions during geopolitical crises. ACEN’s establishment signals a strategic pivot: the creation of an indigenous, resilient navigation ecosystem capable of operating independently of external constellations.
The vulnerabilities of foreign dependency are not merely theoretical. Historical precedents, including instances during military operations such as the 1999 Kargil War where access to GPS signals was restricted or degraded, have underscored the risks of outsourcing a capability as fundamental as precise positioning and timing. Foreign-supplied navigation hardware, particularly inertial measurement units such as ring laser gyroscopes and fibre optic gyroscopes, has compounded these challenges. Proprietary designs and restrictive export controls have compelled the Indian armed forces to ship components overseas for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). These processes introduce unacceptable delays — sometimes extending to years — and erode operational readiness.
ACEN addresses these chokepoints head-on. By focusing on indigenous development, testing and lifecycle support, the centre aims to create a self-sustaining supply chain for navigation technologies. Paul Pandian, Director of Navigation at Ananth Technologies, emphasised the stakes: “The current realities of geopolitics leave no alternative but to achieve complete self-reliance in navigation.” He pointed to the Chandrayaan-2 mission’s precise lunar soft-landing as a testament to the transformative potential of autonomous navigation systems, where indigenous solutions enabled mission-critical accuracy in the absence of reliable external references.
A mature domestic navigation industry positions India to export technologies, fostering economic benefits and enhancing its standing in the global PNT landscape
A Strategic Framework for Full-Spectrum Autonomy
Anchored in a long-term vision extending to 2035, ACEN operates on four interlocking pillars designed to build comprehensive navigational independence:
Next-Generation Sensor Development: The centre prioritises indigenous production of advanced inertial sensors, including high-precision ring laser gyroscopes, hemispherical resonator gyroscopes and emerging quantum sensors. Historically, India has relied on imports — primarily from Russia — for these components. Ananth Technologies has already demonstrated the capacity to manufacture laser gyroscopes domestically, a breakthrough that reduces both costs and supply chain vulnerabilities.
Multi-Modal Data Fusion: Navigation in contested environments demands resilience beyond satellite signals. ACEN is developing artificial intelligence-driven algorithms that integrate data from diverse sources: satellite navigation (including India’s NavIC constellation), inertial navigation systems, visual odometry and radar. These fusion techniques ensure continuous, high-fidelity positioning even in scenarios where global navigation satellite systems are jammed or spoofed.
NavIC Ecosystem Expansion: India’s Regional Navigation Satellite System, NavIC, comprising seven satellites with plans for expansion to a full constellation, is central to the centre’s mandate. ACEN seeks to accelerate NavIC’s adoption across civilian and defence platforms, bridging gaps in receiver technology, augmentation systems, and ground infrastructure.
Collaborative Research and Development: The centre is positioned as a nexus for partnerships among industry, government and academia. Collaborations with ISRO, DRDO and institutions such as the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology will facilitate technology transfer, joint prototyping and talent development.
These efforts collectively aim to create a navigation ecosystem that is not only self-reliant but also future-proof, capable of supporting the diverse requirements of fifth-generation defence platforms, hypersonic weapons and autonomous systems.
The Role of Private Enterprise in a National Mission
The launch of ACEN exemplifies the evolving dynamics of India’s space and defence sectors. Space sector reforms since 2020 have catalysed the growth of over 200 private companies, shifting the field from ISRO’s near-monopoly to a collaborative model where industry assumes greater responsibility for technology development and production. Ananth Technologies, founded in 1992, has been a foundational player in this transition, contributing hardware and systems integration to 105 satellites and 87 launch vehicles. Its expertise in precision sensors, airworthiness certification, and subsystem qualification uniquely positions it to lead in navigation technology.
Narayanan explained the necessity of private sector involvement: “Navigation is a very critical area, and ISRO alone cannot develop it.” With an ambitious production target of 15 satellite launches annually and a backlog of 83 satellites and 76 launch vehicles, ISRO requires a robust national industrial base to scale its ambitions. Narayanan emphasised that while development costs may initially align with international benchmarks due to low-volume prototyping, large-scale indigenous production would yield substantial savings. He described ACEN’s infrastructure as “world-class,” underscoring its potential to support national self-reliance in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Broader Implications for National Security and Beyond
The establishment of ACEN extends beyond defence applications. As PNT technologies permeate civilian domains — enabling everything from precision agriculture and urban air mobility to synchronised power grids and financial transaction timestamps — indigenous capabilities ensure uninterrupted service during potential disruptions. Moreover, a mature domestic navigation industry positions India to export technologies, fostering economic benefits and enhancing its standing in the global PNT landscape.
The choice of Thiruvananthapuram as ACEN’s location is symbolically and practically fitting. Kerala’s maritime heritage, combined with a deep reservoir of technical talent and proximity to ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, provides an ideal ecosystem for navigation research. Rear Admiral S. Gantayet, a former Indian Navy officer, noted that the region’s historical proficiency in navigation, both astronomic and technological, aligns seamlessly with the centre’s objectives.
As India expands its space ambitions and modernises its defence posture, the centre’s success will be measured not merely in technological milestones but in the elimination of vulnerabilities that have shadowed the nation’s operational freedom for decades
A Foundation for Enduring Self-Reliance
The inauguration of ACEN is more than the opening of a facility; it is the crystallisation of a national strategy to secure one of the most indispensable elements of modern power projection. By systematically addressing the technological, industrial and supply chain dependencies that have long characterised India’s navigation capabilities, ACEN lays the groundwork for a future in which the nation’s missiles, aircraft, submarines and satellites operate with assured, indigenous precision.
In an era where the ability to navigate reliably — whether in the vacuum of space, the depths of the ocean or the chaos of electronic warfare — determines strategic advantage, ACEN represents a foundational investment in sovereignty. As India expands its space ambitions and modernises its defence posture, the centre’s success will be measured not merely in technological milestones but in the elimination of vulnerabilities that have shadowed the nation’s operational freedom for decades.
By fostering an ecosystem where navigation systems are conceived, developed, sustained and scaled entirely within its borders, India is taking a big step toward true technological independence — one that promises resilience in peace and dominance in conflict.
