Israeli defense-tech startup ASIO Technologies has secured a multi‑million‑dollar contract from a leading US defense prime to supply several hundred NOCTA autonomous optical navigation systems for an American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program, the company announced on Wednesday.
The contract comes as the US and Israeli militaries continue to carry out airstrikes and UAV missions deep in Iranian airspace, where there is a demand for Assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (APNT) technologies capable of operating in GPS‑denied and heavily contested environments.
ASIO’s NOCTA system is designed to provide drift‑free autonomous navigation for small UAVs without relying on GPS or external communications. The compact, low‑SWaP (size, weight and power) module uses optical sensing to maintain precise positioning even when GPS signals are jammed or spoofed. The system is self-contained, allowing for fast and simple integration across Group 1 and Group 2 platforms.
According to the company, NOCTA has accumulated more than 10,000 operational hours in real‑world combat missions and is already fully fielded across multiple aerial platforms. Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post understands that the system is on multiple platforms used by the Israel Defense Forces, including by those currently taking part in Operation Roaring Lion, to provide a GNSS denied navigation solution.
The system supports day and night missions and can integrate with onboard sensors such as LiDAR to enhance performance in diverse terrain, including snow, desert and mixed environments.
Growing demand for resilient navigation
ASIO CEO and founder Tomer Malchi said the contract reflects a clear operational need among UAV operators facing increasingly sophisticated electronic warfare threats.
“Mission continuity depends on the ability to operate autonomously when GNSS is spoofed or jammed and communications are blocked,” Malchi said. “NOCTA was developed to ensure reliable operation and mission execution under these conditions.”
The system will be provided to a US prime contractor to be used in a Department of War (DoW) program for the US military.
Eugene Mamajek, General Manager of ASIO US, added that the American defense market is actively seeking proven APNT solutions that can be deployed immediately.
“This contract reflects strong confidence in ASIO’s technology and supports our continued expansion and customer engagement in the US,” he said.
ASIO’s portfolio includes tactical intelligence systems, command‑and‑control platforms, situational awareness tools and jam‑resistant navigation technologies. Its systems are deployed across the IDF and used by defense customers worldwide.
Its products are designed to ensure operational independence for ground and aerial forces operating in contested environments.
The company’s battle-hardened and operationally-proven technology has been in the hands of IDF troops and commanders for close to a decade, allowing the company to provide the necessary upgrades and changes for troops in the field.
Based in Kfar Saba with less than 50 employees-many of them reservists who understand the dynamic battlefield- Asio brings a disruptive capability to the tactical domain.
In conflict zones like Iran, Lebanon, Gaza or the Ukraine, troops or platforms that rely solely on GPS for navigation are at risk of being stuck due to potential disruption or jamming. With self-positioning and optical navigation, Asio’s technology is jam-proof.
“Connectivity is a plus, but in the modern battlefield it can get jammed,” Malchi told D&T in an earlier interview. “Our solution can work offline and online. Independence is critical and navigation is like life-support for troops. If it doesn’t work, you are struck. It’s that critical.”