Advances in Quantum Technologies for Defense: Opportunities and Security Challenges
Joanna Śliwa, Konrad Wrona, Marco Piani, Marta Irene García Cid, M. Krelina, Federico Grasselli, Armando N. Pinto, Nuno Alexandre Peixoto Silva, Joan Domènech Bas, Kadir Durak
Quantum technologies harness the fundamental principles and features of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, no-cloning, entanglement, and quantum tunneling, to deliver transformative advancements in areas including secure communications, PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing), sensing, and computing. Potential defense applications of quantum technologies include secure command and control channels resistant to interception, GPS-independent navigation systems, and quantum-enhanced radar capable of detecting stealth objects. However, quantum systems also bring new challenges and potential vulnerabilities, which are particularly relevant in the defense domain, where operational reliability and security are of paramount importance. We discuss insights into the opportunities and limitations of quantum technologies in the defense sector, as identified by the NATO STO IST-219 Research Task Group on Quantum Technology Vulnerabilities. We also present initial findings regarding identified security challenges and validation methodology.
Quantum technologies harness the fundamental principles and features of quantum mechanics, such as superposition, no-cloning, entanglement, and quantum tunneling, to deliver transformative advancements in areas including secure communications, PNT (Positioning, Navigation, and Timing), sensing, and computing. Potential defense applications of quantum technologies include secure command and control channels resistant to interception, GPS-independent navigation systems, and quantum-enhanced radar capable of detecting stealth objects. However, quantum systems also bring new challenges and potential vulnerabilities, which are particularly relevant in the defense domain, where operational reliability and security are of paramount importance. We discuss insights into the opportunities and limitations of quantum technologies in the defense sector, as identified by the NATO STO IST-219 Research Task Group on Quantum Technology Vulnerabilities. We also present initial findings regarding identified security challenges and validation methodology.
Quantum technologies are rapidly moving from scientific research into the arenas of commercialisation and strategic competition, with significant implications for defence and security. While their full military impact may unfold over time, developments in quantum sensing, computing, and communications are already shaping national strategies, industrial ecosystems, and future capability planning. The growing competition among major technological powers highlights the need to act on both the opportunities and risks associated with quantum technologies. Quantum technologies have the potential to enhance military capabilities across domains, from resilient positioning, navigation, and timing to advanced sensing, computing, and secure communications. At the same time, they introduce new vulnerabilities, including risks to current cryptographic systems, supply chains, and technological dependencies. For NATO, the debate is therefore no longer whether quantum technologies matter, but how quickly the Alliance can adopt, operationalise, and secure them before strategic competitors gain asymmetric advantages. This article argues that NATO must pursue a two-track approach: first, fostering quantum innovation, experimentation, and operational adoption across the Alliance; and second, protecting its technological edge, supply chains, critical infrastructure, and security interests against emerging quantum-enabled threats. Achieving a quantum-ready Alliance will require close cooperation among Allies, industry, academia, and NATO entities to translate technological progress into secure and operationally relevant capabilities.
The article focuses on quantum technologies and the prospects for their application in the defense and security sectors. Based on an analysis of the current state of development of quantum technologies and their applications in defense and security, three main areas are identified: quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensors. For each of these, a specific set of applications, advantages, and limitations is identified. It is noted that quantum computing in defense and security finds application primarily in four subfields: post-quantum cryptography, quantum cryptography, cyber threat detection, and cryptanalysis; quantum communication ensures secure information transmission by utilizing the physical properties of quantum states, particularly the principle of the impossibility of cloning a quantum state, with its primary practical application being Quantum key distribution and its promising application being the quantum internet; quantum sensors are the category of quantum technologies closest to operational deployment, as they utilize the hypersensitivity of quantum states to external disturbances to achieve measurement accuracy unattainable by classical devices. A summary of the main areas of application for quantum technologies in defense and security indicates that quantum sensors have the nearest practical implementation horizon (5–7 years), while quantum computing will have the greatest strategic impact on cryptographic infrastructure due to the threat it poses to existing asymmetric encryption algorithms—which is precisely why the transition to post-quantum standards is becoming urgent. Therefore, given the significant interest in and funding for quantum technologies from both the civilian industry and governments, it is expected that these technologies will continue to develop and new quantum applications will become available over the next five to ten years, and new advances in the development of quantum technologies may bring new opportunities for the military, but for the military to actually reap the benefits of new quantum technologies, they need to actively engage in this field and guide the development and implementation of military applications of quantum technologies.
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.
With the rapid development of quantum technologies and the growth of complex cyber threats, it is particularly important to create reliable data protection methods that can guarantee the unconditional security of transmitted information.Quantum cryptography works based on stuff like superposition (the ability of particles to be in several states at once), quantum entanglement (how they're connected from a distance), and the fact that it's impossible to exactly copy or change a quantum state.The application of these principles makes it possible to implement quantum key distribution, which ensures the detection of any interference in the communication channel and makes it impossible to intercept information unnoticed.The article analyzes the most well-known quantum cryptographic protocols, in particular BB84 and E91, their architecture, principles of operation, and features of implementation in military conditions.The composition of typical quantum protection systems is considered: light pulse sources, channels for transmitting quantum data, devices for receiving them, information processing modules, and conventional communication channels for control.The issues of compatibility of quantum solutions with the existing infrastructure of military telecommunications systems are considered, and the prospects for hybrid cryptographic models combining quantum and post-quantum approaches are analyzed.A comparative analysis of traditional and quantum cryptography is carried out according to criteria such as reliability, scalability, resistance to attacks, and development potential.The main advantages of using quantum cryptography in the defense sector are highlighted, in particular, ensuring a secure command communication channel, protecting navigation and telemetry systems, and the secure operation of distributed networks in combat conditions.Examples of international developments and research are considered, in particular, the DARPA Quantum Network, the Chinese Micius satellite, and EU projects within the Quantum Flagship initiative.These examples demonstrate the interest of leading countries in introducing quantum technologies into the field of national security.The potential of quantum cryptography as a means of updating and strengthening the cyber defense system in № 8(49) 2025 1018 the defense sector has been identified, taking into account both current challenges and future threats in the digital environment.
The growing reliance on Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies across critical sectors such as defense, aerospace, and autonomous systems highlights the need for navigation solutions that are robust against signal loss, spoofing, and jamming. Quantum-based navigation systems offer a promising alternative, leveraging the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics to achieve unprecedented precision and resilience. This paper provides an overview of the core quantum technologies enabling this next generation of navigation, including atomic interferometry, quantum accelerometers, gyroscopes, and ultra-precise quantum clocks. Cold atom techniques and laser cooling play pivotal roles in enhancing measurement stability and accuracy. The integration of these technologies into inertial navigation systems (INS) significantly reduces drift and extends operational reliability in GPS-denied environments. Quantum navigation technologies are finding applications across a wide range of domains, including military defense, underwater missions, space travel, and autonomous transportation. Despite existing obstacles such as high development costs, environmental sensitivity, and the need for further miniaturization, progress in quantum sensor development and engineering continues at a steady pace. This article presents an overview of the fundamental concepts, present capabilities, and prospective advancements in quantum navigation. It also highlights the technology's promise as a viable alternative or even a possible replacement for conventional GPS systems.
The rapid development of quantum technologies opens up new opportunities for the military sphere, inparticular in the fields of cybersecurity, communications, navigation, intelligence and modelling of complex combatscenarios. The article analyses the current state of research in the field of quantum computing, quantum cryptography,quantum sensors and sensors, as well as their potential application to increase the combat capability of the ArmedForces of Ukraine. The possibilities of using quantum algorithms to solve complex optimization problems that can beuseful in military logistics, military resource management and threat forecasting are considered.Particular attention is paid to the prospects for the implementation of quantum technologies to create securecommunication channels that prevent unauthorized interception of information, as well as for the development of newnavigation systems that do not depend on satellite signals and are capable of operating in electronic warfareconditions. The paper also examines the main challenges facing the introduction of quantum technologies into themilitary sphere, in particular technical, financial and organizational barriers.Based on the analysis, key areas of further research have been identified that will contribute to the effectiveintroduction of quantum technologies into the defense sector of Ukraine. Approaches to creating an innovative strategyfor the development of quantum technologies in the military sphere, which involves both scientific research and thepractical implementation of their results in military information systems, communication systems and intelligencemeans, have been proposed.