Q-CTRL to develop quantum sensors for military navigation

Quantum infrastructure software company Q-CTRL has been selection for two awards by the US-based Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under the Robust Quantum Sensors (RoQS) program — established to accelerate the development, testing and validation of quantum sensors for real-world defence applications. With this selection, DARPA has awarded Q-CTRL contracts valued at US$24.4 million (AU$38 million) to augment the latter’s field-validated quantum sensing technologies for demanding real-world use cases in high-performance military vehicles.

Navigational technology that is resilient to denial, jamming, spoofing and other denials in the environment has become increasingly critical to defence applications from battlefield operations to intelligence and surveillance. With conflict zones expanding, the risks to crewed and uncrewed defence missions are growing daily. Quantum sensing offers a complementary solution to GPS that is resilient against external interference while filling coverage gaps.

Q-CTRL will develop next-generation quantum sensors for navigation based on its success in field trials of airborne, maritime and ground-based quantum navigation augmented by the company’s proprietary AI-powered software ruggedisation. This technology enables sensors to operate reliably on moving defence platforms subject to challenging real-world conditions, without the need for traditional shielding or isolation. Q-CTRL will be joined by Lockheed Martin as a subcontractor on one aspect of the RoQS program, leveraging its expertise in GPS and quantum technology.

“We’re honoured that our recent demonstrations and exciting new ideas earned Q-CTRL’s selection to deliver a new generation of software-ruggedised quantum sensors for the most challenging defence missions,” said Michael J Biercuk, CEO and founder of Q-CTRL. “We’re here to win and are excited to work with the team at DARPA for the benefit of the warfighter.”

Thomas Loftus, Senior Fellow at Lockheed Martin, added, “We look forward to supporting Q-CTRL and DARPA in the development of robust quantum-enhanced navigational technology. This award signifies the priority defence agencies are placing on the potential for quantum navigation solutions to deliver transformational national security capabilities that complement GPS.”

The news comes as some sectors and organisations are fast-maturing quantum navigation for use on land, on sea, in space and in the air, with companies like aircraft manufacturer Airbus pursuing their development. Additionally, Q-CTRL’s programs target the complementary missions of geophysical mapping of gravity and magnetic fields, as well as positioning based on matching detected signals to the pre-generated maps. This approach provides huge advantages in navigational missions and delivers new insights into minerals prospecting and underground target detection.

“USGS, NASA, and other federal agencies are exploring how to use the emerging generation of highly capable, mobile quantum sensors to detect and assess mineral deposits, and to map out detailed subsurface patterns for GNSS-denied navigation,” noted Jonathan Stock, Chief Scientist for Innovation, NASA Ames Intelligent Systems Division. “DARPA’s awards to Q-CTRL illustrate the potential for impactful new use of this technology, and NASA looks forward to pursuing a deeper relationship with Q-CTRL.”

Image courtesy Q-CTRL