The need to secure communications is critical for militaries and has offered an advantage in battle across history for those who do it well. The advent of new technologies offers ways of securing information, which appears impenetrable by the standards of their era, and this is true today. Quantum computing seems to provide a variety of benefits in defense applications, including protecting communications and the ability to decrypt information protected by some of today’s encryption standards. While it is tempting to focus on investing heavily in quantum communications with the promise that this technology offers in securing communications, it would be foolish to ignore the human elements. This article brings historical parallels that offer insights into the potential weaknesses of heavy investment and application of this technology. Historical examples (specifically the experience of the Germans in World War II with their Enigma encryption machines) show that even the most capable encryption systems can be made ineffective by human error or laziness. Any investment by the defense community into quantum communications must be matched by an equal focus on developing a workforce that is more capable of properly handling and managing those systems, or the investment may be in vain. That investment should include improved cybersecurity training across the workforce and increased focus on Cybersecurity at Professional Military Education waypoints for leaders. With these steps, the Department of Defense (DoD) may be able to avoid the mistakes of previous generations who relied too much on the promises of technology without shoring up the fragile humans who were essential to making that technology ultimately successful.
The need to secure communications is critical for militaries and has offered an advantage in battle across history for those who do it well. The advent of new technologies offers ways of securing information, which appears impenetrable by the standards of their era, and this is true today. Quantum computing seems to provide a variety of benefits in defense applications, including protecting communications and the ability to decrypt information protected by some of today’s encryption standards. While it is tempting to focus on investing heavily in quantum communications with the promise that this technology offers in securing communications, it would be foolish to ignore the human elements. This article brings historical parallels that offer insights into the potential weaknesses of heavy investment and application of this technology. Historical examples (specifically the experience of the Germans in World War II with their Enigma encryption machines) show that even the most capable encryption systems can be made ineffective by human error or laziness. Any investment by the defense community into quantum communications must be matched by an equal focus on developing a workforce that is more capable of properly handling and managing those systems, or the investment may be in vain. That investment should include improved cybersecurity training across the workforce and increased focus on Cybersecurity at Professional Military Education waypoints for leaders. With these steps, the Department of Defense (DoD) may be able to avoid the mistakes of previous generations who relied too much on the promises of technology without shoring up the fragile humans who were essential to making that technology ultimately successful.
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.
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 computing is widely regarded as one of the most revolutionary scientific and technological achievements of the 21st century. The superior data-processing capabilities of this technology promise to bring significant benefits for the training of the People’s Public Security forces, ranging from professional simulations and support for scientific research to intelligent management. However, the rapid development of quantum algorithms also implies that existing cryptographic mechanisms may be compromised, posing a particularly serious threat to information security. This article analyzes the key opportunities offered by quantum computing, while focusing on cybersecurity solutions to protect training-related data within the Public Security forces, emphasizing the role of post-quantum cryptography, multi-level data classification, and the development of highly specialized human resources.
Abstract : There has been much speculation in Defense and Homeland Security circles about what a so called cyber-9/11 would look like. Decisions made by United States today could prevent or invite such a scenario in the next 25 years. Cyberspace research and development will significantly impact the increasingly interconnected environment that will describe the world in 2035 creating opportunities and danger. Opportunities lead to cyber omnisciencei while dangers warn of less privacy, compromised sensitive data, and more vulnerable networks. Quantum computing will be the key to this future. Protecting information and networks in an increasingly connected world has grown exponentially more difficult. Less than a decade ago, defense officials theorized about the cyber crime and data exploitation we see today.ii As such, information is increasingly protected by encryption methods. Quantum computing enables more secure encryption, permitting the use of larger keys without increasing decipher time. Quantum theory provides new options for secure communications. Quantum computing paradoxically renders data and networks less secure. A quantum computer could break the encryption it enables leading to increased espionage, attacks on financial institutions and critical infrastructure. Anyone with quantum computing muscle gains power and groups (criminal and terrorist) have more to gain. Therefore nation-states must learn how to deter Non-State Actors (NSAs) from illicitly using this technology.As computing technology evolves and quantum computers become readily available will the United States be able to deter violent NSAs from using quantum computer technology to launch potentially devastating attacks in or from cyber space? Conversely, does quantum information technology provide the United States new cyberspace deterrence options? This research will strive to answer these questions.
Quantum computing’s arrival signals a paradigm shift in computational power that may transform several sectors, including drug discovery, artificial intelligence, materials research, and optimization [2]. However, this transformative potential also presents a significant and imminent threat to cybersecurity. At the heart of this technological shift is the ability of quantum computers to tackle the complex mathematical challenges on which modern public-key cryptography relies. Quantum algorithms, most notably Shor’s algorithm, can break problems such as integer factorization and discrete logarithms far more efficiently than classical approaches. As a result, cryptographic methods that are widely trusted today—including RSA and Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC)—could become insecure once large-scale quantum computing becomes a reality[1], [8].This poses a profound challenge to the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of digital communications, financial networks, essential infrastructure, and national defense systems [9]. To counter this emerging risk, Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) has become an important area of active research. The goal of PQC is to design cryptographic techniques that can withstand attacks from both conventional computers and future quantum systems, thereby preserving long-term data security in the face of advancing quantum technologies [3].A number of promising Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) approaches are currently being explored in depth. Among them, lattice-based cryptography has attracted significant interest, as it relies on the computational difficulty of problems like Learning With Errors (LWE) and the Shortest Vector Problem (SVP), offering both robust security assurances and practical efficiency [4], [5]. Hash-based signature schemes, such as XMSS and SPHINCS+, offer security rooted in well-established hashing techniques and stateless signature construction [7]. Additionally, code-based cryptography, including systems inspired by the McEliece cryptosystem, remains attractive for its long-standing resistance to cryptanalytic attacks [6]. Other avenues include multivariate quadratic systems and isogeny-based cryptography, each presenting unique benefits and trade-offs in terms of key size, performance, and security robustness [8].A central force driving global standardization is the NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization Project, initiated in 2016 to evaluate and establish new quantum-resilient cryptographic standards [3]. Several algorithms have already advanced to the final standardization phase, while others remain candidates for further evaluation.Despite this progress, transitioning to PQC introduces practical challenges. Integrating new cryptographic algorithms into current digital ecosystems demands considerable computational and infrastructural updates, often involving larger key sizes and increased processing overhead [10]. Organizations must also ensure crypto-agility, the capability to rapidly adapt cryptographic systems as new standards evolve or vulnerabilities are identified [11].One strategic transition approach involves hybrid cryptographic architectures, which combine conventional and quantum-safe algorithms to provide layered security during this migration period [9]. Moreover, organizations should inventory existing cryptographic assets, conduct quantum risk assessments, pilot PQC deployments, and cultivate a quantum-aware cybersecurity workforce.The threat is amplified by “harvest now, decrypt later” strategies, in which adversaries intercept encrypted data today with the intention of decrypting it once quantum capabilities mature [9]. Particularly sensitive categories — including military communications, governmental archives, personal healthcare records, and intellectual property — require immediate PQC-oriented protection.As the quantum era approaches, coordinated global action is essential to harness quantum innovation while safeguarding digital trust. Through proactive investment in research, standardization efforts, and phased post-quantum deployment, societies can preserve digital sovereignty and security resilience in the face of this technological shift [11].
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.