According to a reporter in London, on May 13, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology announced that the country has conducted test flights for quantum-based technology, with hopes of enabling independent navigation without relying on traditional satellite systems like GPS.
British Airways aircraft preparing to land at Heathrow Airport in London, UK. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN).
Andrew Griffith, the UK Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation, asserted that the first-time testing of this technology on flights in the UK is further evidence that the UK is one of the world leaders in quantum technology.
The trials were conducted by the quantum technology company Infleqtion, aerospace and defense group BAE Systems, and defense technology company QinetiQ on May 9.
The UK has adapted the technology while testing it on a series of RJ100 jet flights, utilizing compact atomic clocks and a quantum system based on ultra-cold atoms.
Although GPS jamming is relatively rare and does not directly impact flight paths, the team hopes that quantum systems will provide an additional layer of security while also offering military advantages.
Henry White, head of sensor technology at BAE Systems, emphasized that this technology will play a significant role in supporting the development of next-generation combat aircraft systems.
The project has received nearly £8 million ($10 million) from the government as the UK seeks to become an economy based on quantum technologies.
Last year, the UK government announced a £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) National Quantum Strategy to support quantum computing projects over the next decade.
