Honeywell Introduces Next-Generation Silicon Inertial Measurement Unit into Navigation Portfolio

PHOENIX, June 2, 2025 - Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) has expanded its navigation portfolio with the addition of the HG3900 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), a small, lightweight and low-power tactical-grade device with accuracy and reliability comparable to larger near-navigation-grade IMUs. 

The HG3900 is comprised of all-silicon MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) gyroscopes and accelerometers, which enables a significant reduction in size, weight and power from comparable IMUs using traditional technologies. Its advanced sensors significantly boost its performance by offering a 20-time improvement over other Honeywell MEMs. 

The HG3900 is designed with backward compatibility in mind. As the highly successful Honeywell HG1900 IMU nears its end of life, the HG3900 will be offered in a nearly identical package to enable an easy transition for existing HG1900 customers.

In addition to Honeywell’s rigorous product development process, the HG3900 IMU has successfully completed full environmental testing by the U.S. Army and Navigation Technology Associates (NTA) where it met requirements while under demanding environmental conditions including high vibration and dynamic temperature changes.

“Our HG3900 IMU is an ideal solution for customer applications requiring tactical or near-nav grade performance in a small, lightweight package,” said Matt Picchetti, vice president and general manager, Navigation and Sensors, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Extensive Honeywell and customer testing demonstrates that our new IMU offers superior real-world performance in a smaller package as compared to other IMUs.”

IMUs are widely used on aircraft, ships, spacecraft and other applications where precision positioning and navigation are critical. The importance of these devices has intensified considerably over the past decade with the significant growth in autonomous vehicles and other autonomy use cases. IMUs utilize gyroscopes, accelerometers and electronics to determine where a vehicle is, what direction it is going, at what speed and how far it has travelled.

Advanced MEMS IMUs such as the HG3900 are highly resilient and can provide accurate navigation and orientation data with or without global navigation satellite system (GNSS) inputs. They can function independently for extended periods when GNSS signals are jammed, spoofed or are simply unavailable.

The design verification process will continue into 2026 with initial production and deliveries to commence in late 2026 or early 2027. Honeywell is accepting orders for pre-production units for delivery in 2026.

Honeywell has been a top innovator in IMU technology for more than three decades and pioneered the use of MEMS technologies in navigation. Learn more about Honeywell’s full suite of IMU technologies here.

Honeywell will showcase the HG3900 IMU, along with the rest of the Navigation products, at the Joint Navigation Conference in Cincinnati from June 2-5, including a feature session on June 4.

About Honeywell

Products and services from Honeywell Aerospace Technologies are found on virtually every commercial, defense and space aircraft, and in many terrestrial systems. The Aerospace Technologies business unit builds aircraft engines, cockpit and cabin electronics, wireless connectivity systems, mechanical components, power systems, and more. It’s hardware and software solutions create more fuel-efficient aircraft, more direct and on-time flights and safer skies and airports. For more information, visit aerospace.honeywell.com or follow Honeywell Aerospace Technologies on LinkedIn.

Honeywell is an integrated operating company serving a broad range of industries and geographies around the world. Our business is aligned with three powerful megatrends – automation, the future of aviation and energy transition – underpinned by our Honeywell Accelerator operating system and Honeywell Forge IoT platform. As a trusted partner, we help organizations solve the world's toughest, most complex challenges, providing actionable solutions and innovations through our Aerospace Technologies, Industrial Automation, Building Automation and Energy and Sustainability Solutions business segments that help make the world smarter, safer, as well as more secure and sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.