During the 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO 2026) at Targi Kielce, Canadian defense technology company SPARC AI Inc. presented its Overwatch Patrol positioning technology, designed for soldiers operating in environments where GPS/GNSS satellite navigation signals are unavailable. This marked the debut of the Overwatch variant, a positioning application for soldiers and security personnel operating on foot, providing continuous location tracking in conditions where GPS signals are jammed, spoofed, degraded or simply unavailable.
Photos: SPARC AI Inc
Overwatch Patrol made its debut at MSPO in Kielce. Until now, the company had offered the basic Overwatch application designed for unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the company, the decision to launch the new variant in Poland reflects the importance of MSPO as the third-largest defense exhibition in Europe and a key venue for procurement processes involving NATO and allied countries. This is particularly relevant amid persistent GPS/GNSS disruption in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region, which has made reliable positioning a critical operational requirement rather than merely a backup capability. Ahead of the exhibition, the SPARC AI team conducted a demonstration of the application in Kraków.
The system does not require software installation, additional hardware, external receivers or antennas. The solution was originally designed with navigation on military-grade smartphones in mind. The new version is based on the Overwatch Positioning Network, SPARC AI’s cloud-based positioning service, and can be accessed on any mobile device either as a native application or through a standard web browser.
Overwatch Patrol now also allows multiple users to share their current positions with one another within the application. When a team member moves, whether walking or running, or remains stationary, the others can see that movement on the map in real time without relying on GPS. Teams are created directly in the field using a dynamic code generated by the group leader. Members can join or leave the team without the involvement of a central administrator or the need for prior device configuration.
Knowing the position of friendly forces is fundamental to any dismounted operation and is one of the first capabilities lost when satellite-based positioning becomes unavailable. Overwatch Patrol is designed to preserve this shared situational picture even without a satellite signal.
Another new feature allows any team member to designate a rally point on the map. It is immediately shared with the rest of the group, enabling each member to navigate to it independently from their current position.
Rally points are a key element of dismounted operations. Traditionally, their locations are discussed on a map before the patrol departs and, if circumstances change, communicated verbally. Turning the rally point into a dynamic, shared object allows a commander to designate a new concentration point, for example immediately after contact with the enemy, during casualty evacuation, or when further movement along the planned route becomes impossible. All members of the unit can then navigate to it even if they are dispersed, have lost visual contact or are outside radio communication range.
During MSPO, the SPARC AI management team held meetings with potential technology partners, including discussions on integrating Overwatch Patrol with providers of tactical radio networks. Such integration would enable positioning data to be shared with soldiers operating through existing communications infrastructure.
Press release
See also:
