Northrop Grumman Advanced Hypersonic Technology Inertial Measurement Unit Soars Past Expectations in Rocket Test

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Sept. 23, 2025  – Northrop Grumman’s (NYSE: NOC) Advanced Hypersonic Technology (AHT) Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) has successfully completed its third groundbreaking test, this time on a sounding rocket, surpassing g-force tolerance, altitude and velocity expectations.   

The rocket test proved:

• Northrop Grumman’s navigation technology can perform its mission at hypersonic speeds in GPS-denied environments. This paves the way for precision weapon targeting without GPS.
• The IMU’s ruggedization and survivability exceeded performance expectations in the demanding environments of hypersonic and space flight, maintaining full functionality and collecting critical inertial data.
• The unit successfully proved the technology’s reusability by completing three tests within a six-month period, including two prior tests on a reusable hypersonic vehicle

Experience: 

Sam Dimashkie, director of future navigation technology, Northrop Grumman’s Research and Development organization: “Testing the Northrop Grumman AHT IMU in real-world conditions at unprecedented speeds, proves we’ve developed a navigation system that makes platforms incredibly agile and nearly impossible to defend against. Our technology is a major leap forward in strategic capabilities, outshining anything currently available to U.S. forces.”

photo courtesy Northrop Grumman