# Defense Agencies Advance Quantum R&D

Federal agencies are developing quantum sensing and networking plans to advance national quantum priorities from basic research toward commercialization, while the Department of War and military research organizations pursue technologies for GPS-denied navigation, sensing, and communications. Efforts include chip-scale atomic clocks, photonic integrated circuits, and magnetometers; the Army is developing low-cost, compact clocks, and the Air Force is working on navigation systems independent of GPS. NIST is collaborating on standards, while funding, production scale, and supply-chain security remain challenges. The signals identify prospective research and component-supply areas, but no solicitation, contract award, value, or procurement contact.

- Contractors can assess capabilities in miniaturized quantum components, U.S.-sourced components, and production scaling against the research areas identified; these are prospective opportunities, not current solicitations.
- Organizations working on quantum standards may find relevance in the stated collaboration between military researchers and NIST.
- The shift toward commercialization makes deployability, standards, and supply-chain security relevant considerations for firms positioning research or component offerings for defense applications.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology, Defense & Military
**Topics:** Digital Infrastructure, Cybersecurity
**Published:** September 29, 2026

### Government Entities
- Department of War (DOW)
- Army Research Laboratory
- Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)

### Key Quotes
> Our ultimate platform is the soldier. So, when we look at quantum technologies, how can we put them into a package that the solider can ultimately carry?
> — Frederik Fatemi, Senior Research Scientist for Quantum Science, Army Research Laboratory

### Sources
- [Agencies Draft New Quantum Sensing, Networking Plans – MeriTalk](https://www.meritalk.com/articles/agencies-draft-new-quantum-sensing-networking-plans) - MeriTalk
- [War Department Advances Quantum Navigation, Sensing Research](https://www.executivegov.com/articles/dow-quantum-technology-navigation-sensing-afrl-nrl) - ExecutiveGov
- [Military Researchers Address Hurdles for Quantum Technology | GovCIO Media & Research](https://govciomedia.com/military-researchers-address-hurdles-for-quantum-technology) - GovCIO Media & Research