Orolia acquires navigation testing firm

Navigation technology maker Orolia has acquired Skydel Solutions to add the latter’s GPS and signal simulation technology into the portfolio and grow in the global navigation satellite system market.

Terms of the transaction were undisclosed but the deal aims to help Orolia widen its offerings of resilient positioning, navigation and timing products known by the acronym of “PNT,” the company said in a release Wednesday.

PNT is a technology the military views as vital for communications, situational awareness and search-and-rescue missions particularly in remote locations where most types of network connectivity is difficult.

Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Skydel makes GNSS simulators that combine algorithms and hardware to protect systems that operate on satellite networks used by military and commercial entities.

Skydel was founded in 2014 and builds its products to help users in testing and simulation, as well as to customize signals and make vulnerability assessments.

For Orolia -- headquartered in France with a main office in Lanham, Maryland -- this deal is the latest move in its push for a wider presence across the U.S. defense market.

Orolia’s most recent major acquisition came last year in Talen-X to add more security-related products.

Last year also saw Orolia win a $34 million contract to supply rescue beacons to the Army in a big step for the company to gain more awards as a prime.