U.S. Military Ramps Up Quantum Alternatives to GPS

The U.S. military is accelerating efforts to develop non-space-based alternatives to GPS—the ubiquitous position, navigation and timing (PNT) system provided by the U.S. Space Force—by funding operational prototypes of quantum devices that are immune to satellite signal jamming.

Last month, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) launched Phase 1 of its Robust Quantum Sensors (RoQS) program, a pioneering effort to build quantum sensing technology that can deliver a localized, non-space-based alternative to GPS. Although DARPA has not disclosed spending figures, one participant said it received two contracts totaling $24.4 million.

“If we’re relying on space-based, GPS-based PNT, then we may be in trouble,” Adm. Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told industry executives at a National Defense Industrial Association conference in Washington, D.C. Grady said that, despite improvements, GPS signals remain vulnerable to jamming, making the development of alternative PNT sources “a passion project” and essential to enabling U.S. forces to operate in contested environments.

His remarks came as GPS jamming, allegedly by Russia, forced the plane carrying EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to rely on paper maps and ground-based signals during a landing in Bulgaria, according to the BBC. It’s the latest in a series of incidents—particularly since the start of the Ukraine war—demonstrating Russia’s ability to disrupt GPS, forcing commercial pilots in the Baltic states to use backup systems routinely.

Beyond DARPA’s RoQS initiative, the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) launched its own Transition of Quantum Sensors program last year to get quantum PNT equipment out of the lab and onto the battlefield. Grady called quantum technology one of the most promising approaches for a resilient alternative PNT, allowing warfighters to “fight through those [electromagnetic warfare] saturated environments we’re seeing like in Ukraine right now.”

A June report from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory highlighted three quantum-based technologies as the most promising for alternative PNT. One is inertial navigation, which tracks a vehicle’s position based on its speed and direction but typically drifts over time. Quantum sensors, which are far more sensitive than conventional devices, could in theory maintain accuracy without constant recalibration.

The other two approaches measure subtle variations in Earth’s magnetic and gravitational fields—dubbed “quantum orienteering” for their resemblance to using physical landmarks on a map. All three methods can provide localized PNT data independent of GPS or any other space-based signal and are immune to electronic-warfare tactics and space-based attacks.

However, moving from laboratory validation to devices that work inside noisy, vibration-filled aircraft is a major challenge. Participants in DARPA’s RoQS program will build prototype “walk-on/walk-off” devices for long helicopter flights to test real-world performance.

Australia-based Q-CTRL, one of the first awardees under RoQS, is partnering with Lockheed Martin to apply software algorithms that eliminate interference. DARPA awarded the company two contracts totaling $24.4 million. “We’re excited to deliver a new generation of software-ruggedized quantum sensors for the most challenging defense missions,” said Q-CTRL founder and CEO Michael Biercuk.

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect uncertainty about the reported GPS jamming of von der Leyen’s plane. Russia Accused of GPS Jamming EU Chief’s Jet in Bulgaria

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airandspaceforces.com