Signal: VIAVI Solutions at Joint Navigation Conference 2026 — Assured PNT for D3SOE Environments
Source
Peter MacCurrach-Paine — EMEA PNT Solutions Manager, VIAVI Solutions
LinkedIn post tagged: #pnt #gnss #gps #apnt #trustedpnt #electronicwarfare #defence #navigation #viavi #militarytechnology
Original post
The Signal
VIAVI Solutions showcased its Assured PNT portfolio at the Joint Navigation Conference (JNC) 2026, June 1–4, Cincinnati (Booth 407). MacCurrach-Paine — VIAVI’s EMEA PNT lead — flagged the event as “one of the most interesting conversations” in the PNT space, signaling active market engagement with military and government customers on GNSS-denied navigation solutions.
The JNC is the premier annual gathering of the U.S. PNT community, hosted by the Institute of Navigation (ION) — attended by DoD program managers, DARPA, Space Force, Army PM PNT, and allied defense organizations.
VIAVI’s Assured PNT Portfolio
VIAVI has assembled a comprehensive multi-layer PNT stack through organic development and acquisition:
| Product | Capability | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Secure µPNT STL-1000 | Software-based LEO PNT receiver (Iridium STL) | GNSS-denied fallback; 1000x stronger signal than GPS |
| IRINS (Inertial Labs) | LEO-aided inertial navigation system | D3SOE environments; GPS-independent positioning |
| ePRTC360+ | Enhanced Primary Reference Time Clock | Resilient timing for critical infrastructure |
| SecurePNT 6200 with SecureTime | Compact resilient clock | Field-deployable timing |
| APNT Platform | Multi-sensor fusion, AI-driven assured PNT | Integrated positioning in denied environments |
Key acquisition: VIAVI acquired Inertial Labs (Paeonian Springs, VA) — a leading inertial navigation systems manufacturer — bringing together GPS timing (Jackson Labs), inertial navigation (Inertial Labs), and LEO-based PNT (SecureTime/Iridium STL) under one portfolio.
JNC 2026 Speaker Highlights
VIAVI presented two sessions at JNC 2026:
“New Cesium-Less ePRTC Solution to Provide Timing for Homeland Critical Infrastructure”
June 1, 2026 | 5:05–6:05 PM
Presenters: Nino De Falcis (Sr Director, PNT Business Development) and Lisa Perdue (Principal PNT Solutions Engineer)
This session addresses a critical infrastructure vulnerability: most precision timing systems rely on cesium atomic clocks or GPS disciplined oscillators — both vulnerable to GNSS disruption. The cesium-less approach uses LEO-based time transfer (traceable to UTC via Iridium STL) to eliminate both dependencies.
Market Context: Why This Matters Now
The GNSS disruption environment has reached a threshold that is forcing procurement decisions. Key data points:
- 1,100+ ships in the Gulf region experienced GPS/AIS disruptions since February 2026 (Windward maritime intelligence)
- NATO has documented GNSS incidents in the Baltic Sea, Black Sea, and southeastern Mediterranean
- Lithuania’s warning (May 2026): Russia’s Kaliningrad spoofing radius now covers 450 km — all three Baltic states, most of Poland [see OFFSET Topic 181]
- HASC FY27 NDAA markup (June 4, 2026): Congress moving to restructure DoD PNT governance under a single Senate-confirmed official [see OFFSET Topic 172]
The convergence of these signals is driving a shift from “GNSS resilience as a nice-to-have” to “alternative PNT as a procurement requirement.”
VIAVI’s Strategic Positioning
VIAVI’s approach is notable for three reasons:
1. Multi-layer architecture: Rather than betting on a single alternative (LEO, inertial, or eLoran), VIAVI offers all three in an integrated stack. This aligns with the emerging DoD doctrine that no single backup is sufficient — the answer is multi-source fusion.
2. LEO-first timing: The Iridium STL-based SecureTime service provides signals 1,000x stronger than GPS, making it resistant to the jamming levels documented in the Baltic and Gulf regions. The cesium-less ePRTC approach extends this to critical infrastructure timing.
3. EMEA focus: MacCurrach-Paine’s EMEA role signals that VIAVI is actively pursuing European defense customers — particularly relevant given NATO’s Baltic exposure and the UK Ministry of Defence’s ongoing alternative PNT program.
Competitive Landscape
| Company | Approach | VIAVI Differentiation |
|---|---|---|
| Spirent | GNSS simulation and test | Test/validation only; not an operational PNT provider |
| Orolia (Safran) | Resilient PNT, eLoran advocacy | Strong timing; VIAVI adds LEO + inertial integration |
| L3Harris | Military GPS receivers, M-Code | Hardware-focused; VIAVI adds software-defined LEO layer |
| Satelles | STL (Iridium-based PNT) | VIAVI is a Satelles customer/integrator, not a competitor |
| NextNav | Terrestrial PNT (TerraPoiNT) | Urban/indoor focus; VIAVI covers maritime/aerial/field |
What to Watch
- Army PM PNT procurement decisions following the HASC FY27 NDAA markup — the new single PNT official will have budget certification authority
- VIAVI’s EMEA pipeline — MacCurrach-Paine’s post signals active engagement with European defense customers as NATO allies accelerate alternative PNT procurement
- Cesium-less timing adoption — If the ePRTC360+ gains traction in critical infrastructure, it creates a natural pathway to military timing applications
- Inertial Labs integration — Watch for combined IRINS + SecureTime product announcements targeting the Army’s Mounted Assured PNT System (MAPS) program
Sources: VIAVI Solutions (viavisolutions.com), RCR Wireless (April 2026), ION Joint Navigation Conference 2026, Peter MacCurrach-Paine (LinkedIn)