IonQ Selected to Support Missile Defense Agency SHIELD IDIQ Contract

IonQ is a developer in trapped ion quantum computing founded in 2015 that actively applies its technology to the aerospace and defense sectors. The company empowers satellite-based quantum networks and quantum enabled drones to improve positioning, navigation, and timing resilience in GPS denied environments, and collaborates with industry leaders like Airbus to optimize aircraft loading.

Capella Space is an American aerospace and information services company specializing in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Earth observation satellites. It was founded in March 2016 to provide all-weather, day-and-night imagery to government and commercial clients. In July 2025, Capella Space was acquired by IonQ.

Skyloom Global develops and operates an optical data relay infrastructure in space to provide high-capacity laser-based telecommunications services. It builds optical communications terminals, relay satellites, and ground stations to support low latency, high bandwidth data transport between satellites and Earth, targeting constellations and spaceborne data infrastructure.

Vector Atomic is commercializing quantum technology for applications including GPS-free navigation, telecommunications, and computing.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is an independent research and development agency within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) established in 1958 to prevent and create strategic technological surprises for national security. Operating with a relatively small staff of program managers who are empowered to take high-risk, high-reward approaches, DARPA functions by funding cutting-edge research in academia, industry, and government laboratories rather than conducting research in-house. Its mission focuses on creating revolutionary technologies—such as the Internet (ARPANET), stealth technology, GPS, and mRNA vaccine platforms—that transition into practical military and civilian applications. DARPA programs are typically finite in duration and demand transformational breakthroughs rather than incremental improvements, positioning the U.S. at the forefront of technological innovation.

The Air Force Research Laboratory is partnering with industry, academia, and the Department of Defense to apply quantum information science to Air Force concerns. AFRL has formally joined the IBM Q Network, the first ever partnership of its kind in the Department of Defense. This alliance will provide AFRL and its collaborators with access to commercial quantum systems to explore practical applications relevant to the Air Force. Early applications include optimization problems, speed-up of machine learning algorithms and quantum chemistry simulation. The Extreme Computing facility by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), is now open in New York. It is involved in quantum computing research, ranging from development, integration and deployment of advanced computing technologies for the Department of the Air Force. The AFRL Information Directorate received funding for five major projects. They include: 1. $10 million for Distributed Quantum Networking Testbed and Quantum Cloud Computing Environment, 2. $4 million for Photonic Quantum Computing, which will develop a next-generation ion trap computer. 3. $10 million for Enhancements and Operational Readiness improvements for Trusted DoD/Federal Unmanned Aircraft Systems. This system will manage UAS traffic to support the emerging Federal Aviation Administration/National Aeronautics and Space Administration Advanced Air Mobility vision and provide a real-time interface to Air Traffic Control. 4. $10 million for a Joint All-Domain Command and Control testbed which creates an operational-like environment that allows the warfighter to test cutting-edge technology and tools and provide feedback for researchers. 5. $10 million for a Multi-Domain Radio Frequency Spectrum Test environment. Total government funding involved in the AFRL currently amounts to ~$44 million USD.