The Defense Department recently awarded an $11 million contract to Infleqtion, a quantum technology firm, to expedite the development of its cutting-edge atomic timing technology. This contract, announced December 2nd, is part of the Pentagon's APFIT program (Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies).
Infleqtion, with a presence in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, is behind Tiqker, a compact optical atomic clock designed for integration into standard server racks. This innovative device utilizes quantum sensing to achieve extremely precise timekeeping.
“Tiqker is a quantum-based atomic frequency reference clock designed to meet national security and commercial demands for precise timing in environments where satellite-based time standards are unreliable or unavailable,” explained Matthew Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, in a press release. “The funding awarded to Infleqtion will accelerate the deployment and fielding of these clocks, ensuring they are integrated into defense systems faster,” he added.
The $300 million APFIT program, launched in 2022, aims to rapidly integrate promising technologies from smaller companies into military operations. This investment in Infleqtion’s technology reflects a broader Pentagon initiative focused on developing quantum timing solutions. A similar $11 million award went to Vector Atomic, a California-based company developing comparable optical clocks.
This significant investment underscores the growing concern over vulnerabilities in the Global Positioning System (GPS). The need for resilient, GPS-independent navigation systems is increasingly critical in scenarios involving potential GPS disruption or jamming.