JUNE 24, 2026 – In support of President Trump’s recent Executive Order, Ushering In the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation (E.O. 14411), the Department of War’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced the launch of a multi-phase initiative designed to transition mature quantum sensing and timing technologies directly to the Joint Force. This initiative is expected to invest up to $200M within the next year in support of this goal.
A new era of battlefield awareness is underway, and America stands at the cusp of a quantum revolution. This pivot represents a fundamental shift away from the limitations of classical Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) sensors. By harnessing the unique properties of quantum physics, this project is set to shatter the longstanding “sensitivity-SWaP” (Size, Weight and Power) trade-off, unlocking unprecedented situational awareness for aerial, surface and subsurface missions in electromagnetically contested environments.
The quantum sensing project aims to provide the Joint Force with revolutionary ISR capabilities by addressing a critical “sensitivity-SWaP” trade-off that has long hindered military operations. Classical sensors for electric, magnetic and gravitational fields are often forced to choose between high sensitivity, instantaneous bandwidth and SWaP. Quantum technologies, however, are not beholden to these same constraints.
DIU will focus on developing high-fidelity quantum electric field sensors, magnetometers, gravimeters and tactical clocks that are small enough for field deployment yet sensitive enough to unlock new tiers of situational awareness, and concepts of operation for aerial, surface and subsurface missions. By delivering high-stability tactical clocks and highly sensitive quantum sensors, the initiative will provide the Joint Force with absolute precision timing and the capability to detect and understand weak signals at vast distances.
“The United States Department of War must accelerate deployment and commercialization of quantum sensing to maintain superiority of knowledge of the battle space, speed of decision and operational dominance,” said Kyle Norman, who leads DIU’s quantum sensing team.
This project is organized into four primary Lines of Effort (LoEs): electric field sensors and magnetometers; gravity gradiometers; tactical clocks; and component technology insertions. The Department is specifically seeking to lower development costs and increase speed of fielding by utilizing dual-use commercial solutions, leveraging advancements from fields like mineral exploration, oil and gas surveying and advanced medical imaging. The Department stands ready to fully harness the might of the U.S. and allied commercial technology ecosystem.
DIU is investing at this critical inflection point to send a clear demand signal to the commercial sector that a robust market for quantum sensing exists. By signaling this commitment, the Department aims to unlock private-sector supply chains and catalyze the manufacturing scale necessary to transition this technology from the lab to the field and into the broader economy. This dual-use scaling effort is designed to ensure that both the Department of War and the commercial sector can leverage the precision of quantum RF sensing and secure global market leadership in a future of ubiquitous quantum sensors.
Interested participants are invited to submit solution briefs. Proposals must be submitted via the DIU portal and should emphasize differentiable innovation and ruggedness for military environments. The full solicitation, including detailed technical metrics and submission guidelines, is available at https://www.diu.mil/work-with-us/submit-solution/PROJ00665.