The UK has completed commercial flight trials of advanced quantum navigation systems that can’t be jammed or spoofed in a “first-of-its-kind” achievement.

Although aircraft GPS jamming is relatively rare, new quantum-based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems could offer one part of a solution to providing accurate and resilient navigation that complements current satellite systems.

Infleqtion, a quantum technology firm, in collaboration with aerospace companies BAE Systems and QinetiQ, completed the quantum navigation aircraft trials at MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire last week, with science minister Andrew Griffith aboard the final test flight.

The tests are the first time that the technology has been tested in the UK on an aircraft in flight, and the first such flights worldwide that have been publicly acknowledged, said the UK government.

Led by Infleqtion and in collaboration with industry and academic partners, this project has received backing of nearly £8 million from the government. The funding, together with the £2.5 billion National Quantum Strategy and the National Quantum Technologies Programme, aims for the UK to be a leading quantum-enabled economy.

“From passenger flights to shipping, we all depend on navigation systems that are accurate, safe and secure,” said science minister Andrew Griffith. “The scientific research we are supporting here on quantum technology could well provide the resilience to protect our interests.

“The fact that this technology has flown for the first time in British skies, is further proof of the UK as one of the world leaders on quantum.”

In the series of test flights, the Infleqtion-led team demonstrated two quantum technologies: the Tiqker optical atomic clock, and an ultra-cold-atom-based quantum system, both aboard QinetiQ’s RJ100 Airborne Technology Demonstrator aircraft.

The technology tested will form part of a Quantum Intertial Navigation System (Q-INS), which has the potential to revolutionise PNT, with the system offering high accuracy and resilience independent of traditional satellite navigation using GPS.

The test is part of a project funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), focusing on creating quantum sensors to address the UK’s reliance on GNSS/GPS for location, navigation, and timing data.

This dependence creates a vulnerability, as a single point of failure like jamming or spoofing GPS signals could disrupt critical economic, defence, and strategic activities, the UK government said.

“The work we have done directly addresses the critical need to reduce our reliance on satellite navigation systems, which are vulnerable to various risks,” said Infleqtion UK president Dr Timothy Ballance, on the tests.

“The successful flight trials demonstrate the potential of quantum technology in overcoming navigation system challenges, which is an exciting development for future applications in the aerospace industry and beyond.”

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The completion of the flight trials marks a milestone towards Mission 4 of the UK’s National Quantum Strategy, which aims to deploy quantum navigation systems on aircraft by 2030, providing accuracy and resilience independent of satellite signals.