The United Kingdom’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory has developed a cutting-edge atomic clock using quantum technology that promises to enhance the precision and security of military operations.
According to the British government, the device will reduce reliance on GPS technology, which is vulnerable to disruption and jamming. The clock’s exceptional accuracy, losing less than a second over billions of years, is expected to significantly improve intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance efforts. The Ministry of Defence said the clock will be deployed in military operations within the next five years.
Exceptional Accuracy
Beyond its military applications, the quantum clock has the potential to transform global navigation systems, improving the accuracy of satellite communication and aircraft navigation. The prototype clocks were tested with the Royal Navy, the Army Futures at BattleLab, and key collaborators Infleqtion, Aquark Technologies, HCD Research and Imperial College London.
“The trialing of this emerging, groundbreaking technology could not only strengthen our operational capability but also drive progress in industry, bolster our science sector and support high-skilled jobs,” said Maria Eagle, minister for defense procurement and industry.
The test was the first-ever trial of a U.K.-built optical atomic clock outside of a laboratory setting. Further research aims to miniaturize the device, enabling mass production and wider applications.
In May, the U.K. government teamed up with quantum tech firm Infleqtion, BAE Systems and QinetiQ to demonstrate the capabilities of quantum-based navigation systems in commercial flight trials. The tests, which marked the first time a locally developed quantum navigation tech was validated in flight, used Infleqtion’s Tiqker optical atomic clock and an ultracold-atom-based quantum system.