The Pentagon has awarded a $11 million contract to quantum technology firm Infleqtion to advance its cutting-edge atomic timing technology. According to Space News, the contract, announced on December 2, is funded through the Department of Defense’s Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program, aimed at fast-tracking groundbreaking solutions for national security.
Infleqtion, operating in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, is at the forefront of GPS-independent navigation tools—a crucial innovation as vulnerabilities in the Global Positioning System, such as jamming or spoofing, raise concerns in conflict zones and during cyberattacks.
At the center of Infleqtion’s efforts is Tiqker, a compact optical atomic clock designed to provide precise timing in environments where GPS signals may be unreliable or unavailable. By leveraging quantum sensing, Tiqker manipulates atomic quantum states to achieve unparalleled accuracy in time measurement.
“Tiqker is a quantum-based atomic frequency reference clock designed to meet national security and commercial demands for precise timing,” said Matthew Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion. “The funding awarded to Infleqtion will accelerate the deployment and fielding of these clocks, ensuring they are integrated into defense systems faster.”
The APFIT program, funded at $300 million for fiscal year 2024, is part of the Pentagon’s broader strategy to incorporate innovative technologies into military operations. Since its inception in 2022, APFIT has aimed to expedite solutions from small businesses and commercial firms.
Infleqtion’s contract is one of two recent quantum timing investments, with an additional $11 million awarded to Vector Atomic, a California-based firm developing similar optical clocks.
This latest investment highlights the growing importance of quantum technologies in modern defense strategies, paving the way for a future where navigation and timing systems are no longer reliant on vulnerable satellite signals.
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