Department of War Pushes Quantum Navigation and Sensing, Confronts Standards and Supply-Chain Gaps

# What the Department of War is doing now Military researchers described their current work on quantum navigation and sensing at the Quantum World Congress in College Park, Maryland. Projects span component miniaturization, new sensor methods and standards work intended to move prototypes toward fieldable systems.

Concrete technical efforts

The Army is developing a low-cost, chip-scale atomic clock intended for integration into communications and navigation gear. The service is also collaborating with the National Institute of Standards and Technology on photonic integrated circuits, which use miniaturized lasers and optics. A recurring engineering challenge is shrinking lasers, optics and supporting subsystems enough that soldiers can wear or carry them on deployed platforms.

Laboratory (NRL) is focused on finding reliable, U.S.-sourced components and dual-use technologies that can support both military requirements and a broader commercial market.

Standards, terminology and metrology

NIST officials highlighted a key nontechnical barrier: the field lacks widely accepted standards for measurements and terminology across many quantum sensing and navigation technologies. NIST has issued post-quantum cryptography standards and is working with international metrology institutes to lay a foundation for future quantum technology standards, but gaps remain for the specific measurements and definitions needed to compare and qualify prototype systems.

Production and supply-chain concerns

Funding continuity is a concern for researchers who want to move beyond lab prototypes. AFRL is investigating ways to scale production of quantum systems, especially navigation technologies, to support larger deployments. NRL's push for reliable domestic components reflects both supply-chain risk and the challenge of converting military specifications into parts available at commercial volumes.

Role of private investment and commercial markets

Attendees noted that private investment has substantially supported quantum computing development, reducing the government's role as sole funder in that subfield. However, some defense-oriented applications—navigation systems designed to operate when GPS is denied—may not attract the same level of commercial demand, complicating the business case for rapid industrial scale-up.

# What this means for planners and program managers

• Expect near-term prototyping to focus on chip-scale atomic clocks, photonic components and magnetometer-style sensors. These are the technologies most actively pursued by Army, AFRL and NRL.
• Prioritize standards and metrology planning alongside hardware development. Without common measurement baselines, testing, procurement and fielding timelines will stretch.
• Address supply-chain strategy early, especially for lasing and photonic components. Domestic sourcing and dual-use commercialization are already top-of-mind for NRL and AFRL.

# Bottom line War is advancing quantum navigation and sensing across multiple labs and services, moving toward miniaturized clocks, photonic circuits and quantum magnetometers. Progress depends on closing gaps in standards, securing supply chains for specialized components and sustaining funding paths for systems with limited commercial markets.