Insider Brief
- Defense Scoop is reporting that the Secretary of Defense is requesting $75 million to accelerate quantum.
- The initiative aims to speed up the commercialization and operationalization of quantum devices for Pentagon purposes.
- Pentagon officials believe that quantum technology is approaching a tipping point.
The Office of the Secretary of Defense is seeking a budget of $75 million in fiscal 2024 for a new project called Quantum Transition Acceleration, Defense Scoop reports.
According to the defense website, the initiative aims to speed up the commercialization and operationalization of quantum devices for Pentagon purposes, while also strengthening the US supply chain that supports the development of emerging quantum technologies.
Defense experts make the case in the Defense-wide justification book for fiscal 2024 budget estimates that the development of quantum technologies is crucial for maintaining the nation’s technological power. Quantum information science involves the study and application of complex phenomena at the atomic and subatomic level to process and transmit information. Experts believe that this field will enable transformational science, engineering and communication applications in the future.
The new project seeks to overcome the challenges and barriers to the implementation of quantum applications for defense, which include the maturity of components and supply chain of advanced capabilities in photonics, as well as the misalignment of government with industry regarding quantum technology development priorities, maturity time-line realism, and technology protection strategy.
Pentagon officials believe that quantum technology is approaching a tipping point that will determine how quickly it can make an impact, according to the site. If the US can stay on pace, many important outcomes for the DOD can be realized, including robust position, navigation and timing for DOD freedom of operations with precision strike, even with contests in spectrum, space, or cyber operations. The officials also noted that quantum computation could lead to rapid advances in materials and chemistry for advanced energetics, propulsion, and platform coatings, as well as enable nascent optimization techniques for stealth properties, logistics, and machine learning.
Quantum tech also has the potential to significantly enhance electromagnetic spectrum capabilities, bringing significant advantages associated with electronic warfare, intelligence collection, among other advatages. The Pentagon believes that the Quantum Transition Acceleration project will help alleviate the major issues that pose a risk for the slowdown of technological maturation affiliated with quantum applications for defense.
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