NATO releases its quantum technology roadmap

[Josh]

NATO has published its quantum technology roadmap, which allies approved on 30 July. The aim is to accelerate the understanding, adoption and integration of quantum technologies across NATO and allied armed forces, while managing the risks that come from strategic competition. The goal is for the alliance to become quantum ready. This is defence policy, so please keep the discussion on the technology rather than politics

The roadmap covers three main areas: quantum computing, quantum communication and quantum sensing. Computing is about processing power for defence uses, communication is about secure links that can withstand quantum attacks, and sensing covers detection and measurement technology for military operations. It also looks at how quantum technology overlaps with artificial intelligence, space capabilities and next generation communication networks

Alongside it, NATO's Transatlantic Quantum Community met in Washington DC on 24 and 25 September to discuss how quantum computing could affect secure communications, infrastructure, intelligence and crisis decision making. The community was set up in 2024 and now includes 24 NATO allies and six partner nations, with Belgium and Bulgaria the latest to join. The Netherlands took over as chair in May for a year, with Canada as vice chair. It brings together governments, industry, academia and research institutions

This fits with several stories we have covered recently, from the US agency plans for quantum sensors and IonQ's resilience pitch to France's defence quantum work with Thales. Quantum navigation and timing in particular could matter a lot for militaries worried about GPS jamming. Secure communications and post-quantum cryptography are the other obvious priorities

The roadmap itself seems fairly high level, with no funding figures published. Do you think quantum sensing and communications will make it into military use before quantum computers do? And how much should civilian quantum research be shaped by defence priorities?

NATO releases Quantum Technology roadmapwww.nato.int