The Royal Navy has completed a major trial of quantum navigation technology on its uncrewed submarine testbed XV Excalibur, the service stated.
The experiment marked the first time a quantum optical atomic clock has been operated underwater. The trial, conducted with the Submarine Delivery Agency’s Autonomy Unit and UK quantum firm Infleqtion, tested the company’s “Tiqker” clock aboard the extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle built by MSubs.
Unlike surface ships, submarines cannot rely fully on GPS, and traditional microwave-based clocks can drift over time. According to the Royal Navy, integrating quantum-based systems such as Tiqker can improve navigation accuracy and allow submarines to stay submerged for longer without requiring external signals.
Commodore Marcus Rose, Deputy Director for Underwater Battlespace Capability, described the test as “a significant milestone in the development of Extra Large UUV capabilities in the Royal Navy.” He said it demonstrated the Navy’s ability to “rapidly develop and integrate payloads into uncrewed host platforms” to stay ahead of adversary technologies.
Commander Matthew Steele, who leads the Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office, said the trial was “a first critical step towards understanding how quantum clocks can be deployed on underwater platforms to enable precision navigation and timing in support of prolonged operations.”
Infleqtion’s General Manager Ryan Hanley said the collaboration “laid the foundation for fleets to navigate, coordinate, and operate with precision in any environment.” MSubs Engineering Director Matthew Troughton added that “integrating a quantum clock onto Excalibur demonstrates how advanced timing can redefine what autonomous submarines are capable of.”
The trial forms part of the Royal Navy’s effort to accelerate new technologies such as autonomy, artificial intelligence, and quantum systems into frontline operations, supporting what it calls a “quantum operational advantage” for future undersea missions.
The RN is looking to leverage quantum technology to create a superposition drone.. this means we can now cut the undersea force to a single drone which is in all places at once.. but then collapses into the single required position when observed… this use of quantum technology allows the RN to be everywhere on the planet with only one unmanned platform.. essentially swapping the escort and SSN fleet for a single platform costing £100,000. Ministers said we will be freeing the saved 30billion over 20 years to directly support BAE shareholder prices with a dividend support allotment.. this 30 billion to shareholders will support wider economic growth allow BAE security in building the simple quantum drone and providing a directorship for the minister of defence.
🤣
Ha ha. You’re certainly getting the hang of it now !!!
Can I ask more about this Allotment ?
I always wanted a big Marrow.
Mate you should pop down to our allotments.. we have the biggest fruit and veg you we ever see.. a right eyeful.
“If quantum mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet’ – Nils Bohr
“If you think you understand quantum mechanics, you don’t understand quantum mechanics.” – Richard Feynman.
So how do the RN know a quantum clock is so accurate?
I love quantum physics..it literally twists your mind like a pretzel…. The thing that really fucks up my head is if a particle is in a state of superposition until it interacts with another particle at which point it collapses into a single position how the hell does it know it’s interacted with another particle when in it’s superposition state means it’s potentially everywhere… 🤯🤯🤯🤯😵💫😵💫🤢🤢🤮🤯🤯🤯🥴🥴🥴
In all fairness, quantum technology would be very useful on submarines, and especially on long-endurance/minimal contact submarines like the bombers or these drones.
Yep especially quantum communications across the air water interface, it will be the holy grail essentially undetectable completely immune to EW communications between sub surface, surface and air units… the barrier is preservation of the quantum state of photons as they pass through sea water.. the Chinese in the lab have managed 30 meters.. models suggest up to 900meters is possible.. but that’s the very optimistic end.
That just about sums it up, well done.
Great to see the name Excalibur afloat again. My father was in charge of the high test peroxide depot at Faslane when the first Excalibur and explorer were being tested.
Out of interest, Excalibur’s periscope is mounted in the starter’s box at Elie golf club in Fife
I keep trying to be allowed to build my own Quantam Institute of Science… But at least I am very busy with other things.
Loving the Excalibur clock.