Quantum technology is an emerging and possibly revolutionary field, capable of impacting several human efforts. Quantum technologies are dual-use, attracting interest from the defense, security, military, and governmental sectors. Previous research has highlighted the substantial benefits of using quantum computing systems across several domains. These systems have previously exhibited the capability to accelerate processing in critical domains, such as big integer factorization, relative to their traditional equivalents. The fundamental significance of quantum factoring has been proven for cryptography. This will render RSA encryption, a widely used encryption method based on the inability of computer systems to factor huge integers, effectively useless. Nonetheless, overcoming encryption is not the only potential use or benefit of quantum computing for national defense and security-related objectives. This review paper explores the emerging role of quantum computing in the military and defense sectors. It highlights the significance of recent advancements in quantum technologies for defense applications and provides an overview of defense-focused quantum research. A comprehensive literature survey examined various existing quantum computing techniques relevant to military use. The paper also presents a comparative analysis of these approaches, discusses key challenges, and outlines potential future directions in this rapidly evolving field.
Quantum technology is an emerging and possibly revolutionary field, capable of impacting several human efforts. Quantum technologies are dual-use, attracting interest from the defense, security, military, and governmental sectors. Previous research has highlighted the substantial benefits of using quantum computing systems across several domains. These systems have previously exhibited the capability to accelerate processing in critical domains, such as big integer factorization, relative to their traditional equivalents. The fundamental significance of quantum factoring has been proven for cryptography. This will render RSA encryption, a widely used encryption method based on the inability of computer systems to factor huge integers, effectively useless. Nonetheless, overcoming encryption is not the only potential use or benefit of quantum computing for national defense and security-related objectives. This review paper explores the emerging role of quantum computing in the military and defense sectors. It highlights the significance of recent advancements in quantum technologies for defense applications and provides an overview of defense-focused quantum research. A comprehensive literature survey examined various existing quantum computing techniques relevant to military use. The paper also presents a comparative analysis of these approaches, discusses key challenges, and outlines potential future directions in this rapidly evolving field.
A new paradigm in computing called quantum computing has the potential to change many industries, including the military and government. The purpose of this study is to examine the applications, opportunities, difficulties, and prospects of quantum computing in these fields. The paper provides a comprehensive introduction to quantum computing, highlighting its distinctions from conventional computing, and discussing a range of quantum computing technologies. It examines the present and foreseeable uses of quantum computing in government and defense, including high-performance computing, cybersecurity and encryption, intelligence and surveillance, and logistics. Additionally, it looks at how quantum computing might advance national security, facilitate better decision-making, and speed up research and development. Also, it discusses issues with quantum computing, such as its exorbitant cost, security issues as well as a trained personnel shortage. The paper concludes by examining the potential applications of quantum computing in these fields, including their integration with conventional computing systems, the research and development of quantum technologies, public-private sector partnerships, and their potential to spur innovation and alter military and governmental operations. The report comes to the conclusion that, despite the difficulties, quantum computing holds great promise for transforming the public and defense sectors. More research and development are essential to accomplish this promise.
Prior work has discussed the significant benefits of the use of quantum computing systems in an array of different fields. These systems have already demonstrated the potential to expedite processing in key areas, such as factoring large integers, as compared to their classical counterparts. The specific value of quantum factoring has been demonstrated for cryptography. It will render one of the most prevalent encryption techniques, RSA encryption – which is dependent on computational systems being incapable of determining the prime factors of large integers, effectively obsolete. However, defeating encryption is not the only prospective use or value of quantum computing for national defense and homeland security purposes. This paper analyzes the need to invest resources in quantum systems and quantum computing technology development due to the potential threats they pose and the benefits that technological innovation in this area is poised to provide. The benefits of quantum computing in a variety of national defense and homeland security application areas are discussed and the implications of investment – as well as failure to invest – in this technology are considered.
Quantum technology is an emergent area with the potential to be disruptive and ability to affect many human activities. Quantum technologies are dual-use technologies, and as such, they are the subject of interest for the defence and security industry and military and governmental actors. This report aims to review and map the possible quantum technology military applications to serve as the entry point for international peace and international security assessment, ethics research or military and governmental policy, strategy and decision making. Quantum technologies for military applications, introducing new capabilities, increasing effectiveness and improving precision lead to 'quantum warfare', wherein new military strategies, doctrines, policies and ethics should be established. This report provides a basic overview of quantum technologies under development where the expected time scale of delivery or utilisation impact are estimated. The particular applications of quantum technology for the military are described for various warfare domains (e.g., cyber, space, electronic, underwater warfare, or intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance), and related issues and challenges are articulated.
Abstract Quantum technology is an emergent and potentially disruptive discipline, with the ability to affect many human activities. Quantum technologies are dual-use technologies, and as such are of interest to the defence and security industry and military and governmental actors. This report reviews and maps the possible quantum technology military applications, serving as an entry point for international peace and security assessment, ethics research, military and governmental policy, strategy and decision making. Quantum technologies for military applications introduce new capabilities, improving effectiveness and increasing precision, thus leading to ‘quantum warfare’, wherein new military strategies, doctrines, policies and ethics should be established. This report provides a basic overview of quantum technologies under development, also estimating the expected time scale of delivery or the utilisation impact. Particular military applications of quantum technology are described for various warfare domains (e.g. land, air, space, electronic, cyber and underwater warfare and ISTAR—intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance), and related issues and challenges are articulated.
The current realities of the cyber domain could be radically disrupted by the advent of quantum communications and quantum computing. The consequent challenges for future cyber security and strategy require a nuanced analysis of these technologies and their likely employment by major powers. The employment of quantum cryptography can create quantum communications systems that are theoretically unhackable. Within the foreseeable future, quantum computing will be powerful enough to overcome most of today's advanced encryption techniques, rendering the majority of existing commercial, government, and military systems unprecedentedly vulnerable. These quantum technologies could respectively tend to advantage defense and offense in the cyber domain. While the “shield” enabled by quantum communications would contribute to technological deterrence through denial, the asymmetries of vulnerability that might result could potentially undermine military cyber stability, while exacerbating the risks of misperception through complicating intelligence collection. In the more distant future, the advent of quantum computing will enable unique offensive power that could leapfrog existing cyber capabilities. The strategic impact of these disruptive technologies will depend upon the approaches of great powers, particularly the U.S. and China, which have become leaders in this technological domain.
Quantum computing is one of the evolving fields within computer science. It leverages benefits from physics, mathematics, and quantum principles in order to develop a computer with capabilities not ever witnessed before. Such a computer is based on complex physics and is able to store and process data in units of "qubits" that enable electronics or photons to be available in more than one state simultaneously. A distinguishing characteristic of a quantum computer is its ability to perform certain calculations and solve or simulate complex problems exponentially faster than classical computers. From a governmental perspective, such a technology is a double-edged sword. A quantum computer that is able to break public-key cryptography may pose threats due to its potential to leak confidential and sensitive government information. On the other hand, quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution can lead to a secured communication where exchanged data are secured against cyber-attacks. Despite the absence of a fully realized quantum computer model, governments worldwide recognize the substantial potential of quantum technology to drive economic development and safeguard critical national security data, they have actively positioned themselves in the race to advance quantum technology. This survey reviews the research and development of several branches of quantum computing used for critical national infrastructures. It aims to map potential use cases of quantum computing with critical national infrastructure applications. The survey is divided into two main sections, namely, quantum communication and cryptography, and quantum networks, where each of these is further reviewed from different angles. This includes opportunities and challenges quantum computing can pose for governmental communications. Also, it reviews the advancement of quantum satellites and quantum drones for establishing a reliable quantum network. In addition, it touches on the use of quantum technologies within the realm of space. From the reviewed studies in this survey, it is concluded that despite the substantial effort and research in the quantum computing field, the practical integration of quantum computing into national infrastructure needs to be further studied to assess its implementation feasibility.