Unlocking the Power of Quantum Navigation: Lockheed Martin, Q-CTRL, and Partner Awarded Contract
Lockheed Martin and Q-CTRL have been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Defense's Innovation Unit (DIU) to prototype quantum-enabled Inertial Navigation System (INS). This innovative technology has the potential to revolutionize navigation capabilities for warfighters, providing precise location measurements even in environments without access to GPS.
A new era in navigation
The system, known as QuINS, uses quantum sensing technology to provide highly accurate navigation and positioning capabilities. Navigation enabled by QuINS uses motion-sensitive quantum sensors to calculate a platform’s position, speed, and orientation. This approach relies on internal measurements, rather than external references like GPS, making it a solution that can be used in any environment.
"Our intent is to mature this innovative technology and transition quantum sensors out of the laboratory to address real-world national security needs," said Dr. Valerie Browning, vice president, Research & Technology, Lockheed Martin. "Our investments to date in technologies like quantum sensing help us stay ahead of future challenges for national defense. Our collaboration with quantum industry leaders Q-CTRL and AOSense brings together the necessary expertise to deliver a cutting-edge solution that meets the needs of the warfighter, and we believe has the potential to save lives on the battlefield."
A strategic collaboration
Lockheed Martin is partnering with Q-CTRL, a company that specializes in developing innovative software solutions to control and stabilize quantum systems. The company previously received investment from Lockheed Martin’s venture capital arm, LMVentures. Q-CTRL is a domain leader in quantum control engineering, providing tools and techniques that improve the performance of quantum devices and help develop more accurate and reliable quantum sensors.
“We're excited to be working with a key industry leader like Lockheed Martin to transition innovative technologies from science to capability. Lockheed has shown the right mix of risk appetite and expertise to deliver truly transformational capabilities to the warfighter that few others can, and we're thrilled to partner in our quest to make quantum technology actually useful. This program is a major accelerant for our collaboration and we appreciate the support shown by DIU,” said Q-CTRL CEO and Founder Prof. Michael J. Biercuk.
AOSense specializes in the development of high-performance quantum sensors for a variety of applications in Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT). Lockheed Martin builds on the combined Q-CTRL and AOSense strengths with expertise in sensor hardening for relevant environments, platform transition, and conventional PNT.
Next steps
The initial phase of the contract is focused on validating the performance of QuINS technology. The team will work closely with the DIU to demonstrate the potential of quantum sensing technology and explore its applications in real-world scenarios.
As a leader in technology and innovation, Lockheed Martin is committed to investing in cutting-edge solutions that will help the DoD address emerging challenges and stay ahead of the curve.
About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at lockheedmartin.com.
About Q-CTRL
Q-CTRL’s quantum control infrastructure software for R&D professionals and quantum computing end users delivers the highest performance error-correcting and suppressing techniques globally and provides a unique capability accelerating the pathway to the first useful quantum computers and quantum sensors. Q-CTRL operates a globally leading quantum sensing division focused on software-level innovation for strategic capability. Q-CTRL also has developed Black Opal, an edtech platform that enables users to quickly learn quantum computing.
Founded by Michael J. Biercuk in 2017, Q-CTRL has pioneered the quantum infrastructure software segment and has become the leading product-focused software company in the broader quantum sector. Q-CTRL has been an inaugural member of the IBM Quantum Network startup program since 2018, and its performance management software now runs natively on IBM quantum computers. The company has international headquarters in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berlin, and Oxford.
