AFRL Secures DOD Funding for Quantum Hardware Manufacturing

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has secured funding from the Department of Defense’s Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation Program to pursue quantum computing and deep learning technologies.

Anthony Rizzo, a research scientist at the AFRL, said the agency will use the funding to help AIM Photonics create silicon photonic microchips that can receive quantum information. According to Rizzo, the microchips can be integrated into manned and unmanned aerial systems, thereby turning aircraft into moving quantum network nodes that can receive and send information between soldiers securely.

The microchips will be manufactured using the same infrastructure used in chips installed on portable consumer devices, the AFRL said.

The Air Force lab has been working on quantum computing technologies alongside other Department of Defense and federal government components.

In September, the AFRL awarded the quantum computing company IonQ a $22.5 million contract for quantum networking research and development. Under the deal, IonQ will develop two barium-based trapped ion quantum computing systems at AFRL’s location, enhancing the laboratory’s quantum research mission.