14 April 2025
The Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is leading a new cutting-edge quantum research project to enhance secure timing technologies in the battlespace and provide asymmetric advantage to the warfighter.
Position, navigation and timing is an essential component of the command and control of deployed forces.
These technologies enable real-time operational and logistical information to be shared across Defence assets in the air, on the land and in the sea.
Imagine Defence is engaged in a joint operation – sailors are navigating littoral environments, aircrew are surveilling from above and soldiers are preparing for long-range fires.
Defence relies on Global Positioning Systems (GPS), and the precise timing from GPS satellites, to share crucial information, navigate across the battlefield and determine the positions of each deployed force.
Now imagine what happens if that GPS is turned off.
GPS receivers are susceptible to jammers or spoofing attacks, meaning an adversary is able to essentially cut off access from GPS information to Defence assets.
DSTG has been researching alternative technologies to allow Defence to operate more securely in contested battlefields when GPS is degraded or denied.
Quantum technologist Ben Sparkes explained that one such technology is Quantum-Secured Time-Transfer (QSTT) – a signal that is impossible to spoof, due to the laws of quantum mechanics, and is very difficult to jam or even detect.
“QSTT uses a pair of entangled photons, or single particles of light, which is transmitted over an optical link to create a shared timing signal,” Dr Sparkes said.
'Defence continues to leverage emerging disruptive technologies, like quantum, to provide a capability edge for our soldiers, sailors and aircrew.'
An optical link is a telecommunications link that uses light signals to transmit data, audio or video.
The new DSTG research project uses QSTT to create and deliver one of the hardest components of a quantum-secure timing network: a ground-to-satellite optical quantum link.
“Establishing a link directly between the ground and a satellite is a key step towards allowing for the robust, secure and precise synchronisation of timing between Defence assets across a battlespace,” Dr Sparkes said.
“The optical quantum link will also provide literally pin-point precision of relative force position due to the 1000-fold improvement in timing performance of QSTT over GPS.”
Funded by the Australian Army, this ground-breaking project will develop the two key components required to create the quantum link: optical ground stations and quantum light sources.
DSTG is partnering with world-class Australian researchers from CSIRO, the Australian National University and the University of Western Australia to bring their respective strengths together and deliver the quantum link.
Chief Defence Scientist Tanya Monro said quantum technology presented unique opportunities for Defence, and was one of six Innovation, Science and Technology (IS&T) priorities identified in the 2024 National Defence Strategy and Defence’s IS&T strategy.
“Defence continues to leverage emerging disruptive technologies, like quantum, to provide a capability edge for our soldiers, sailors and aircrew,” Professor Monro said.
“This collaboration means we are not only contributing to the sovereign Innovation, Science and Technology ecosystem, but also providing a clear pathway from concept to capability for the technology.”
