A trio of US firms is exploring how quantum computing could reshape American defense systems.
California-based D-Wave Quantum has joined forces with defense giant Anduril Industries and Davidson Technologies to see how quantum applications could boost air and missile defense.
In an early proof-of-concept, the companies put the idea to the test using Anduril’s defense simulations, Davidson’s military mission-planning expertise, and D-Wave’s Advantage2 quantum computer.
Leveraging D-Wave’s Stride hybrid solver, they measured solution quality, scalability, and how quickly a quantum system could theoretically take down a missile threat.
Results reportedly showed the quantum-based system reached solutions ten times faster than existing defense systems and improved threat mitigation by 12 percent.
In one scenario simulating a 500-missile coordinated attack, the quantum solution took down 60 more missiles than conventional defenses.
Cracking Complex Scenarios
While the companies noted that conventional systems still outperformed quantum on simpler scenarios, the new solution showed clear advantages for bigger, more complex missions.
Davidson President Dale Moore said it helped “identify efficiencies to expedite execution in space, missile defense, and joint force operations,” adding the quantum system can pick the best outcome from “millions” of possible scenarios.
The team plans to expand testing to large-scale simulations across logistics, cyber defense, and action generation.
“Our partnership with Davidson and D-Wave looks toward augmenting advanced technologies through quantum by first pressure-testing the technology against real defense problems,” Anduril President Matthew Steckman said.
“Our work to deliver this capability and others like it to the warfighter is just beginning.”
