Advanced Navigation, a world leader in Assured Position, Navigation and Timing (APNT) and autonomous systems, has expanded its defense arm in the U.S. through the appointment of Wayne Prender as Global Head of Defense — this decision underscores the Australian-based company’s commitment in deepening the technology trade between the U.S and Australia.
Advanced Navigation’s strategic-grade FOG INS, Boreas D90
Prender brings more than 20 years of experience in the global defense industrial base, with expertise in C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) technologies and uncrewed and robotic systems, as well as systems engineering and government contracting. He joins Advanced Navigation following an 18-year tenure at Textron Systems, where he was the Senior Vice President of Air Systems and led the design, development, fielding and sustainment of uncrewed systems. Prender was also responsible for Aerosonde Pty (now part of Textron Systems), overseeing engineering and operations during its transition from a civil and commercial platform to a successful multimillion-dollar global defense platform.
Prior to joining the defense industry, Prender served in the U.S. Army, as a Platoon Leader and Battalion Intelligence Officer, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions during deployment to Iraq. He was also Aide-de-Camp for the Commanding General of the U.S. Army’s 20th Support Command (CBRNE). He serves on the Board of Directors for The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and was a charter member of its Maritime Advocacy Committee. Prender holds two master’s degrees in technology management and business administration from the University of Maryland, in addition to a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Saint Louis University.
Earlier this year, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) identified PNT as one of the Critical and Emerging Technologies for bolstering national security. Additionally, a recent Defense Science Board Task Force recommended that the Pentagon increasingly rely on commercial companies for military-grade APNT solutions, specifically highlighting the potential for fiber-optic gyroscope (FOG) technology and quantum inertial sensor technology—prime areas of expertise for Advanced Navigation.
The company’s world-leading technology is showcased by Boreas D90. Leveraging strategic-grade FOG technology, Boreas D90 delivers ultra-accurate performance and steadfast reliability for inertial navigation. Its resilience against electronic interference makes it ideal for GPS-denied or -degraded scenarios and strategic applications, including precision targeting, radar systems, and navigation for uncrewed ground, sea, and air systems.
Appealing to AUKUS Pillar 2, Advanced Navigation opened its high-tech manufacturing facility for autonomous systems in New South Wales, Australia, in late 2023. The facility not only increases the secure production of navigation solutions for GPS-denied environments, it enhances the critical output of strategic-grade FOGs, which possess the heightened sensitivity necessary to detect the Earth’s rotation. This capability is essential for maintaining tactical superiority in the most challenging and contested environments.
It is becoming increasingly clear the future of defense will be redefined by autonomous systems. Leading the way in modern maritime defense, Advanced Navigation extended its manufacturing capacity by opening Australia’s largest subsea robotics facility. The site is dedicated to the production of the company’s autonomous underwater drone, Hydrus. Capable of delivering high-fidelity data with full autonomy in a small form factor, Hydrus advances underwater military intelligence with applications in change detection, mine countermeasure and Rapid Environment Assessment (REA).
Advanced Navigation Chief Revenue Officer, Christopher McNamara, said, “It’s a fantastic win for our business to have recruited Wayne at this pivotal moment of growth. Drawn from his decades of field experience, Wayne brings not only deep domain expertise in uncrewed systems but also an exceptional understanding of the problems warfighters face. His appointment is a logical step in our strategy to partner with global defense firms and militaries as we tackle their most pressing APNT challenges.”
Prender said, “In today’s global defense market, having cutting-edge APNT solutions is mission-critical. The disruptive solutions that Advanced Navigation designs and delivers at speed provide the situational awareness warfighters need to act quickly and decisively, especially when traditional forms of navigation are unavailable. Not only does this intelligence minimize the risk of disorientation and reduce mission delays, it also ensures that mission objectives can be achieved with increased precision, survivability and effectiveness. I look forward to joining the team and bringing these vital capabilities to a global stage, as we work to bolster the defense mechanisms of our allied nations.”
Chairman of Advanced Navigation’s Defense Advisory Board, General (Ret.) David Petraeus, said, “From counter-UAS to unmanned underwater vehicles, Advanced Navigation has been at the forefront of developing innovative and reliable APNT solutions where they are needed most. Especially as defense technology cooperation and trade between Australia and the U.S. deepen under the AUKUS Pillar 2 and GWEO initiatives, the appointment of a Global Head of Defense based here in Washington, DC is the right move at the right time.”
Advanced Navigation is financially supported by leading global investment firm KKR, which invested in the company in 2022, with KKR Global Institute Chairman, General David H. Petraeus (US Army, Ret.) chairing its Defense Advisory Board. Other investors include In-Q-Tel (IQT), a venture capital firm that invests in critical technologies relevant to U.S. government agencies, and former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. Malcolm Turnbull AC, who serves as Chairman of the company.
