Insider Brief
- The Pentagon has made quantum technology a central priority in a new six-part strategy outlining the future of U.S. military capability.
- The Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance category focuses on resilient communications and navigation systems that can withstand jamming and electronic attacks.
- Applied AI, biomanufacturing, hypersonics, directed energy and contested logistics technologies round out the Defense Department’s new critical technology areas.
- Pentagon by gregwest98 is licensed under CC BY 2.0
How Is the Pentagon Positioning Quantum Technology at the Center of Future Warfare?
The Pentagon is elevating quantum technology to the center of its future weapons strategy as part of a new set of priorities unveiled by the U.S. Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, Emil Michael.
In a video posted on X, Michael outlined six Critical Technology Areas that the department says will define U.S. military strength in the decades ahead. The list includes Applied Artificial Intelligence, Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics Technologies, Scaled Directed Energy, Scaled Hypersonics, and a newly framed category that places quantum at the core of battlefield decision-making: Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance.
“Our adversaries are moving fast, but we will move faster,” Michael said in a statement. “The warfighter is not asking for results tomorrow; they need them today. These six Critical Technology Areas are not just priorities; they are imperatives. The American warfighter will wield the most advanced technology to maximize lethality. This is how the War Department wins wars.”
Why Is Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance Critical to Future Military Operations?
The department said the quantum category focuses on building communications and navigation tools that can withstand jamming and interference on contested terrain. Pentagon officials have warned for more than a decade that GPS and traditional radio signals — cornerstones of modern military operations — are increasingly vulnerable to disruption by adversaries with electronic warfare capabilities.
The new priority calls for improving long-standing radio-frequency systems while accelerating work on quantum sensors and quantum-based communications. These systems rely on the physics of individual atoms or particles to measure time, detect movement, or transmit information in ways that are harder to spoof or jam. Pentagon planners see them as critical to maintaining secure communications and accurate navigation if satellites or radio networks are attacked.
Michael said the six technology areas are intended to provide immediate, tangible results to the warfighter and ensure the United States remains the most lethal fighting force in the world. The department framed the effort as part of a long lineage of military innovation, stating that innovative technologies have always given U.S. forces a battlefield edge. The new plan aims to turn scientific advances into battlefield tools faster, with quantum playing a central role in information advantage.
In summary, the Pentagon’s updated roadmap positions quantum tools as core enablers of secure information dominance on the battlefield.
| Capability | Function | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Quantum sensors | Transmit information in hard-to-spoof formats | More resistant to jamming |
| Quantum communications | Transmit information in hard to spoof formats | Improved security under attack |
| Hybrid RF systems | Pair legacy networks with quantum tools | Measure atomic-level movement and timing |
Applied Artificial Intelligence
While quantum sits at the heart of battlefield resilience, artificial intelligence remains a top-tier priority across the department.
Applied Artificial Intelligence covers everything from office automation to battlefield decision aids. The Pentagon said its AI focus is aligned with the White House AI Action Plan, which frames global AI development as a direct competition between the United States and China. A recent reorganization placed the Pentagon’s Chief Digital and AI Office under Michael’s direct oversight to speed the adoption of AI tools.
The other four technology areas – Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics, Scaled Directed Energy and Scaled Hypersonics – round out a strategy that emphasizes speed, scale, and survivability in future conflicts. Directed energy systems aim to counter incoming threats such as drones and missiles, while hypersonic systems focus on long-range strike and rapid maneuver. Logistics technologies target the vulnerabilities in supply chains that could be exploited in a major conflict.
The department said these priorities are designed to push research labs, military units and defense contractors toward technologies that deliver breakthrough capabilities directly to the warfighter. By anchoring the list around quantum and AI, Pentagon leadership is signaling that information resilience — being able to communicate, navigate and coordinate under attack — will define the next era of military competition.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a statement: “Our nation’s military has always been the tip of the spear. Under Secretary Emil Michael’s six Critical Technology Areas will ensure that our warriors never enter a fair fight and have the best systems in their hands for maximum lethality. The War Department is committed to remaining the most deadly fighting force on planet Earth.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Pentagon’s six Critical Technology Areas?
The Pentagon’s six Critical Technology Areas are: Applied Artificial Intelligence, Biomanufacturing, Contested Logistics Technologies, Scaled Directed Energy, Scaled Hypersonics, and Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance.
What is Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance?
Quantum and Battlefield Information Dominance focuses on building communications and navigation tools that can withstand jamming and interference on contested terrain. The category combines improvements to traditional radio-frequency systems with quantum sensors and quantum-based communications.
Why is the Pentagon prioritizing quantum technology?
Pentagon officials have warned for more than a decade that GPS and traditional radio signals are increasingly vulnerable to disruption by adversaries with electronic warfare capabilities. Quantum systems rely on the physics of individual atoms or particles to measure time, detect movement, or transmit information in ways that are harder to spoof or jam.
How do quantum sensors work?
Quantum sensors use the physics of individual atoms or particles to measure time, detect movement, or transmit information. These systems are more resistant to jamming and spoofing than traditional electronic systems.
What are the military applications of quantum communications?
Quantum communications rely on entanglement, a property in which two or more quantum objects in a system can be intrinsically linked such that measurement of one dictates the possible measurement outcomes for another, regardless of distance. This enables secure communications that are harder to intercept or jam.
What role does artificial intelligence play in the strategy?
AI and autonomy dominate the budget with over $2.2 billion allocated across dozens of programs. The Pentagon’s AI focus is aligned with the White House AI Action Plan, which frames global AI development as direct competition between the United States and China.
What are quantum sensors being used for militarily?
Quantum sensors could potentially be used in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance roles. They could lead to improvements in submarine detection, detect underground structures or nuclear materials due to their extreme sensitivity to environmental disturbances, and detect electromagnetic emissions to enhance electronic warfare capabilities.
How much is the Pentagon investing in quantum technology?
The Department of Defense’s RDT&E budget totals over $179 billion, up from $141 billion the year prior. Quantum-related programs are dispersed across multiple line items and often embedded within classified initiatives, making the total quantum investment difficult to isolate.
