Quantum Technology

Quantum Technologies exploit the principles of quantum mechanics, the physics governing atoms and sub-atomic particles, to develop devices and systems with capabilities beyond those achievable using conventional technologies. By harnessing quantum effects, these technologies have the potential to overcome many of the fundamental performance limitations of classical systems. 

Many applications enabled by quantum technologies, such as sensing, timing, navigation and communications, already exist in classical form. However, quantum enhancement can deliver significant improvements in sensitivity, accuracy, resilience, stability and operational range. 

Quantum technologies encompass a broad range of fields, including: 

  • Quantum Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT): Combining quantum sensing, advanced data fusion and alternative navigation techniques to deliver resilient positioning, navigation and timing capabilities in environments where GNSS is unavailable, degraded or denied.
  • Quantum Computing: Leverages quantum mechanics to solve selected optimisation, simulation and data-processing problems.
  • Quantum Sensing and Timing: Harnessing quantum phenomena to deliver ultra-precise measurements of time, gravity, RF fields, magnetic fields and motion, enabling enhanced sensing and next-generation timing solutions
  • Quantum Communications: Exploiting the laws of quantum physics to enable communications.
  • Quantum Networks: Connecting quantum devices and systems to distribute quantum information, enabling distributed sensing and the foundations of the future quantum internet. 

In summary, quantum technologies represent a suite of enabling capabilities that have the potential to deliver transformational advances across defence, security and critical national infrastructure applications. 

QinetiQ believes it is highly unlikely there will be a purely “quantum” system. Instead, we predict a future in which there will be a range of hybrid quantum-classical systems, as even quantum computers will need to be accessed by classical computers. However, the integration of these two very different technologies presents an extreme systems engineering challenge, for which most of the industry is not yet mobilised or adequately resourced to tackle. 

QinetiQ’s Quantum Capabilities  

QinetiQ is taking a pragmatic and long-term view of QT, investing ahead of demand to generate and attract the right quantum scientific expertise to support the needs of our defence, security and critical national infrastructure clients. However, QinetiQ’s strength lies in our ability to bring quantum physicists together with other disciplines (e.g. mathematicians and systems engineers) to develop and deliver practical hybrid solutions for our clients. 

Our quantum work can be categorised into three main areas: 

  • Quantum Maturation and Integration Services 
  • Quantum PNT 
  • Quantum Computing 

Quantum Maturation and Integration Services  

The true value of quantum technology is realised when it can be delivered as an operational capability. QinetiQ helps customers navigate the journey from scientific breakthrough to deployed system, maturing, integrating and assuring quantum sensing, timing, communications and computing technologies to provide resilient, trusted capabilities for defence, security and critical national infrastructure. 

As Quantum Technologies mature, it is critical that the resulting hybrid systems undergo rigorous Test & Evaluation (T&E) to prove that they will work in real world operational conditions, and that they will deliver a quantifiable return on investment for our clients. Already a leading global provider of T&E services, QinetiQ verifies and validates system performance, delivering testing and trials at scale in the maritime, land and air domains.

We do this using a range of T&E assets in our laboratories, in a wide range of controlled environments we either own ourselves or operate on behalf of our MOD, as well as staging field trials of increasing complexity. We are already running a number of projects evaluating third party quantum devices, which have been developed either commercially or in academia. 

The QinetiQ Test Harness provides the evaluation, integration, and validation of quantum technologies. It enables the testing of quantum sensors, communications systems, algorithms, and emerging quantum-enabled applications. By offering a repeatable framework for performance assessment, the test harness helps accelerate technology readiness, reduce integration risk, and provide confidence in the deployment of quantum solutions for defence, security, and commercial applications. 

QinetiQ has world leading facilities to provide access to a unique range of specialist test, evaluation, and experimentation environments that support the development of advanced technologies, such as quantum technologies. These facilities enable customers to undertake research, prototyping, validation, and operational testing in secure and highly controlled conditions. These facilities cover domains such as defence, aerospace, autonomy, cyber, sensing, and quantum technologies, QinetiQ's infrastructure supports innovation from concept through to deployment. 

QinetiQ manages and operates specialist facilities on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), providing critical test and evaluation infrastructure for defence capability development. These facilities offer access to world-class expertise, secure environments, and representative operational conditions that support the assessment of platforms, systems, and emerging technologies. Through the operation of MOD facilities, QinetiQ helps ensure that new capabilities are rigorously tested, trusted, and ready for operational use. For more information, see BUTEC, Hebrides and Aberporth.

Systems engineering is a discipline focussed on the design, integration and management of complex systems over their lifecycles. Quantum Technologies. We seek to lead by example, generating capacity and new skills so that quantum enablement and enhancement becomes a reality.

We combine world-leading quantum expertise with a deep understanding of defence, security and critical national infrastructure challenges to deliver bespoke R&D programmes that solve customer problems. Through independent experimentation, technology assessment and evidence-based analysis, we help customers identify, develop and exploit quantum technologies that provide measurable operational advantage. For example, within Advanced Materials, our team researches the synthesis of materials with different dimensions (including quantum dots and graphenes) using techniques such as vapour deposition, exfoliation and proprietary methods to enable manufacture and patterning.

Our technology watch and consultancy services provide up to date, vendor neutral information on the current state of the art in QT. We examine emerging technologies and how they might disrupt defence, security and critical infrastructure in the future. We identify the risks and opportunities associated with new innovations to give decision-makers insight into how their adoption could overcome challenges and achieve operational advantage. From horizon scanning to informing specific QT product choices, we give our clients the insight and evidence they need to inform their plans.

QinetiQ has long experience in creating and managing extensive partner ecosystems across industry and academia to generate new solutions to our clients’ mission critical problems, typically in 6–8 weeks. QinetiQ’s repeatable model includes commercial and security enablement that allows agile procurement and delivery of client tasks, using ‘rainbow teams’ drawn from across multiple organisations and award-winning collaborative working arrangements beyond ISO 44001 standard.

Quantum PNT

Modern military and critical national infrastructure systems rely heavily on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), such as GPS, for positioning, navigation and timing. However, these signals are vulnerable to jamming, spoofing and denial, and are unavailable in environments such as underwater, underground and contested operational areas. While methods such as Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) can operate independently of GNSS, their accuracy degrades over time as navigation errors accumulate. 

QinetiQ is developing next-generation resilient navigation solutions that combine advanced algorithms, quantum sensors and sophisticated data fusion techniques to maintain accurate positioning in GNSS-denied environments. Our work focuses on exploiting the unique performance advantages of quantum sensing technologies to enhance navigation accuracy, robustness and operational resilience. 

Key areas of expertise include: 

  • Hybrid quantum-classical inertial sensor fusion: Integrating quantum and classical inertial sensors to provide more accurate and resilient navigation reducing drift and improving long-term navigation performance.
  • Magnetic map matching: Using highly sensitive quantum magnetometers to compare local magnetic field measurements against reference maps of the Earth's geomagnetic field, providing passive and resilient position fixes.
  • Gravity map matching: Using quantum gravimeters and gradiometers to compare local gravity measurements against high-resolution gravity maps, enabling accurate navigation without reliance on external signals.
  • Multi-sensor data fusion: Integrating measurements from quantum accelerometers, gyroscopes, gravimeters, gradiometers and magnetometers with conventional PNT technologies to deliver highly resilient and accurate navigation solutions. 

By combining quantum sensing, advanced data analytics and systems integration expertise, QinetiQ is helping customers develop assured Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities for defence, security and critical national infrastructure applications where GNSS cannot be relied upon. 

Quantum Computing  

QinetiQ provides independent expertise to help customers unlock the potential of quantum computing. We develop, test and assess quantum algorithms on real hardware, delivering evidence-based insights into where quantum computing can provide future advantage across defence, security and critical national infrastructure applications.

Quantum technologies have the potential to reshape our world. At QinetiQ, our focus is on turning quantum technologies into quantum capabilities, across sensing, position navigation and timing, computing and communications. From quantum-classical data fusion and quantum-enabled map matching for GPS-denied navigation to system test and evaluation in our laboratories, controlled environments and field trials, we take a systems engineering approach to quantum. We partner with leading academics and industry experts to develop practical hybrid solutions to real-world problems that meet the defence, security and national infrastructure challenges of today and tomorrow.  

Contact us

Looking for more information? Contact our Quantum team.

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