IonQ wins $7.5M AFRL Phase 2 for free-space quantum links to drones

IonQ received $7.5 million in Phase 2 funding from the Air Force Research Laboratory under its $21.1 million contract. The program aims to beam quantum entanglement through open air instead of fiber to connect ground stations with moving drones and aircraft.

• $7.5M Phase 2 sits within the original $21.1M AFRL contract
• Free-space link operates in the C-band (~1530–1565 nm)
• Pointing, acquisition and tracking keeps the beam on moving platforms
• Adds quantum frequency converters and O-band QNICs