insider brief
As Defense One reported, U.S. senators Maggie Hassan and Marcia Blackburn are demanding answers from the Pentagon about its quantum sensing efforts, citing concerns about China’s advances in the field. Quantum sensing, which has the potential to enable anti-jamming navigation and positioning systems, is closer to real-world applications than quantum computing, and China currently leads in market-ready technology in this area. Senators are asking the Pentagon to outline a strategic plan for quantum sensing. This includes how it is coordinating its quantum sensing efforts internally and with other agencies, and what support it needs from Congress to accelerate development.
A recent report suggesting that China has seized global leadership from the United States in the field of quantum sensing appears to have gained attention in Washington, D.C.
Two U.S. senators are demanding answers from the Department of Defense (DOD) about efforts to advance quantum sensing technology, a key area of quantum science that could play a key role in future military capabilities. . According to Defense One, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-Tenn.) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wrote this in a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. He expressed concern about the United States’ ability to keep pace with China in emerging areas. , got the letter.
“China is pursuing advances in quantum information science, some of which exceed U.S. efforts in size and scope,” the senators wrote in an Oct. 3 letter, according to a defense news site. are. “To ensure the United States maintains its technological advantage, the Department of Defense must develop a strategic plan to incorporate quantum sensing into national security efforts.”
Quantum sensing uses precise measurements of atomic and subatomic particles to detect physical changes such as acceleration and gravity, and is expected to revolutionize technologies such as navigation systems. These sensors allow military assets such as drones and aircraft to determine their location without relying on GPS signals that can be jammed or spoofed. As Defense One reports, the technology is likely much closer to real-world applications than quantum computing, which still faces development hurdles.
The letter follows a September report by the Information Technology Innovation Foundation (ITIF), which found that while the U.S. leads in quantum computing, market-ready quantum sensing and communications technologies It turns out that China is superior.
According to the report, “China leads in quantum communications, rivals the U.S. in sensing, and excels in market-ready technologies, but the U.S. has an advantage in high-impact areas.”
This gap in quantum communications and sensing technology reflects the strategic differences between the two countries. Quantum computing, led by the United States, involves manipulating qubits to process complex information, a difficult task that researchers expect will take years to fully realize. are. For example, IBM wants to build a 100,000-qubit quantum computer that can solve global challenges, but that won’t happen until 2033. Quantum sensing, on the other hand, involves more immediate applications that exploit the predictable behavior of atoms to gather precise measurements of environmental factors. According to a report from Defense One, things like acceleration.
According to Defense One, the Department of Defense has made multiple investments in quantum sensing, including a $55 million effort aimed at advancing the technology. However, the ITIF report suggests that China’s focus on near-term technologies, leading in quantum communications and perhaps sensing, puts the United States at a disadvantage.
“Overall, China’s strategic focus on near-term quantum technologies allows it to lead with more market-ready technologies,” the report said. .
In their letter, Hassan and Blackburn questioned the Department of Defense’s level of preparedness in this area. But more specifically, senators see a lack of planning and coordination in the federal government’s quantum technology efforts. They want answers about how the Pentagon is coordinating quantum sensing efforts within its various departments and with other federal agencies that allegedly outspend the military in this area. . The senators also want clarification on whether the Department of Defense has a strategic plan for quantum science at all.
Defense One reports that among the senators’ questions were:
“What are the emerging threats and areas of concern that the Department of Defense has identified that quantum sensing may play a role in addressing? “What is the current breakdown of the quantum sensing effort within the Department of Defense, including the directorate responsible for managing and advancing the Department’s overall quantum sensing effort?” “What does the Department of Defense need from Congress to support, sustain, and accelerate quantum sensing technology for national defense?”
The senators asked Secretary Austin for a response by November 15th.
