Infleqtion UK to Develop Deployable Quantum RF Direction-Finding System

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Infleqtion, a global leader in quantum computing and quantum sensing powered by neutral-atom technology, has been awarded £9 million (~$12M) by Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to continue development of a deployable quantum radio frequency (QRF) direction finding (DF) system as part of the Quantum Missions Primer programme. Infleqtion is developing a Quantum Spectrum-DF product within the second phase of the Quantum Direction Finding (QuDiFi) project, designed to accurately detect and locate signals in environments where existing technologies are limited.

“By advancing quantum sensing from laboratory research to practical deployment, this project will help establish the United Kingdom as a leader in next generation radio frequency sensing technologies,” said Colin Sullivan, Managing Director, UK at Infleqtion. “The technology also lays the groundwork for future applications such as spectrum surveillance, passive radar and resilient navigation, enabling new capabilities that are not achievable with existing systems.”

Radio signals are essential to modern communications, navigation, and monitoring systems. The ability to determine where these signals originate is critical for applications ranging from defence and security to emergency response and protection of infrastructure. However, current direction-finding systems often rely on large antenna arrays, especially at lower frequencies, which limits their use in mobile and space-constrained environments.

This project uses a quantum sensing approach based on Rydberg atoms to detect radio signals using optical techniques rather than conventional antennas. The approach is expected to reduce reliance on large antenna structures and enable compact, broadband, and passive sensing. As a result, the system aims to deliver high-performance direction finding in a much smaller and more deployable form factor that allows the technology to be mounted on platforms that to date could not host this capability.

"Nearly a century after the UK developed high-frequency direction finding (HF/DF) to gain intelligence advantage, Rydberg sensing offers the opportunity to reinvent that capability for a far more contested electromagnetic environment," said Sullivan. "By applying atomic sensors to detect, characterize, and geolocate HF signals with exceptional sensitivity and precision, this UK-based project can strengthen sovereign awareness of spectrum, improve the ability to identify and track potential threats, and enhance national resilience against increasingly sophisticated state and non-state actors."

Infleqtion is also collaborating with Leonardo on the project. Leonardo is a global security company that realises multi-domain technological capabilities in aerospace, defence, and security.

Dr. Oliver Sims, Electronic Warfare Chief Technologist, Leonardo said: “Our collaboration with Infleqtion shows Leonardo's commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies that can transform future sensing capabilities. The promise of quantum-enabled RF sensing lies not only in its sensitivity and precision, but also in its potential to dramatically reduce the physical footprint of direction-finding systems."

“For defence platforms, reducing size, weight and power consumption while preserving operational effectiveness is a significant advantage,” Sims added. “Technologies based on Rydberg-atom sensing could enable new levels of performance in environments where traditional antenna-based approaches face practical limitations. We see broad applicability for these advances across Leonardo's electronics portfolio and are continuing to invest in research and development to evaluate how quantum technologies can enhance future capability for our customers."

In earlier work, Infleqtion successfully designed and tested a prototype system. The second phase of this project involves developing a robust and deployable product, Quantum Spectrum-DF, which is focused on improved performance, reliability, and ease of use, while validating the system in realistic operational environments. The system is designed for dual use across both defence and civilian markets.