Charlotte Bailey joined AIN’s editorial team in 2025 as a news reporter covering multiple topics including business aviation, new technology and the defense sector. She is also a frequent presenter in AIN’s video news reports. 
UK-based Charlotte has a strong interest in vintage military jets and in 2023 published a book about the de Havilland Vampire, as well as serving as a consultant on the topic for TV and movie projects. She is keen to expand her flying experience and enjoys hands-on assignments worldwide. In 2024, Charlotte was honored as Best New Journalist in the Aerospace Media Awards. Early in her career, Charlotte was involved in manufacturing customized hot air balloons.

News Reporter 

Charlotte Bailey

Quantum computing and sensing company Q-CTRL’s ambition is to be in “every Airbus aircraft” with what it describes as a world-leading alternative navigation solution. Ironstone Opal—its “un-jammable, unspoofable, undetectable quantum navigation system”—is also of particular relevance to defense platforms, with technological readiness levels currently being advanced alongside partner and investor Lockheed Martin.
Q-CTRL’s hardware-agnostic software platform, designed to operate when traditional GPS signals cannot be relied upon, is a form of alternative navigation that chief strategy officer Aravind Ratnam believes is becoming increasingly necessary in today’s geopolitical climate. Q-CTRL says that in 2024, it became the first company “to actually demonstrate fully working magnetic navigation,” with Ironstone Opal now the world’s first airworthiness-qualified quantum-navigation GPS backup system, Ratnam told AIN.
With magnetic navigational systems driven by mineral deposits in Earth’s crust, Q-CTRL’s approach is also to bring proprietary mapping methods to the field that did not exist before. These serve as references for the local magnetic field measured by a magnetometer mounted on an aircraft or vehicle. Before Q-CTRL’s proprietary mapping methods, Ratnam described existing magnetic maps as being “at very low resolutions, and not necessarily suited for this application.”
Crucially, this method cannot be jammed or spoofed. For flights over water, Q-CTRL uses gravitational maps, and the company performed a fully operational gravitational demonstration earlier this year. Additionally, Ratnam cited two further key advancements as to the success of Ironstone Opal’s technology: miniaturization and the company’s ability to overcome issues inherent in airframe-mounted systems. Q-CTRL’s AI-driven algorithms are key to overcoming the challenges posed by vibration and electromagnetic emissions. “One of the key advancements we brought to this field is stabilization and miniaturization,” Ratnam said.
Although Ratnam believes the “first natural place to put this was passenger airlines,” which is how Airbus first became an investor and partner, Lockheed Martin is playing a similar role to advance the technology readiness level of defense-specific applications. TRL 7 to 9 will be platform-dependent, with a “large demonstration” planned for the coming months. According to Ratnam, the system—which is almost identical despite differing potential platforms—can be installed in a new test aircraft in a matter of days.
Q-CTRL says it is also “making strides” with various U.S. agencies, such as DARPA, on potential collaborations. With the Iran war having highlighted the potential of comparatively smaller and cheaper drones versus crewed fighters, “the reality is that the effectiveness of the autonomous fleets will not be good unless they can navigate in GPS-denied zones,” Ratnam said. Alongside ongoing technological advancement, Q-CTRL is also looking to optimize engineering requirements for mass manufacturing applications.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

Q-CTRL Eyes Multiple Markets for Quantum Navigation System 

Airbus and Lockheed Martin partnering to deploy AI-enabled solution 

Quantum computing/sensing company Q-CTRL is looking to be in “every Airbus aircraft” with what it describes as a world-leading alternative navigation solution.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Curt Epstein

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

Kerry Lynch

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

Charles Alcock

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Farnborough Airshow 2026

More In Avionics

Scandinavian Avionics To Support Legacy Nighthawk Systems

Billund, Denmark-based company will also offer dealer coordination for European customers

AIN Product Support Survey 2026: Avionics

AIN readers rate avionics, cabin management, and airborne connectivity manufacturers

AIN Roundtable—Readying for Potential Navigation Spoofing, Jamming

Experts gather to discuss the problems and solutions surrounding GNSS interference

Ciconia C&CAS Demos Coordination, Collision Avoidance

Product enables aircraft to work together with no need for satcom or cellular communications

Garmin Expands SmartCharts Reach to Canada and Mexico

New release adds missed approach climb gradient table and climb gradient values on departure procedures

Autoland-equipped Phenom 300EV Gets Trio of Approvals

Light jet now approved by Brazilian, U.S., and European regulators

Klatt Works Adds Gulfstream as Approved SAVED Supplier

Expands availability of company's oxygen-mask head-up display system

Honeywell Expands Guided Visual Approach List to 120

Improves safety when flying into challenging airports

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN