Infleqtion Demonstrates World’s First Quantum Optical Atomic Clock on an Underwater Autonomous Vehicle

In a major technological milestone, Infleqtion, a United States-based quantum technology company, has successfully demonstrated the world’s first deployment of a quantum optical atomic clock on an underwater autonomous vehicle, in collaboration with the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom and MSubs Ltd. The trial integrated Infleqtion’s Tiqker optical atomic clock into the Royal Navy’s Excalibur (XCal) testbed submarine, marking a defining achievement in underwater navigation and precision timing.

The Need for Quantum Timing in Submarines

Submarines from any nation face a similar challenge: they operate in GPS-denied environments. Once submerged, they lose access to Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), including the U.S.-operated GPS network, forcing them to rely on onboard timing and navigation systems. Traditional microwave-based atomic clocks, though accurate, gradually accumulate timing errors—known as drift—which can lead to navigational inaccuracies during long underwater missions.

The Tiqker optical atomic clock changes that paradigm. It provides an ultra-stable “local time heartbeat” that enables submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) to navigate accurately for extended durations without relying on external signals. This breakthrough is crucial for modern naval operations, particularly for stealth or deep-sea missions where external navigation aids are unavailable or jammed.

A UK–US Quantum Collaboration

Commander Matthew Steele, Head of Futures at the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office (DCTO), stated that this trial represents “a first critical step towards understanding how quantum clocks can be deployed on underwater platforms to enable precision navigation and timing (PNT).”

He confirmed that the Royal Navy plans to continue testing quantum-based navigation systems, including Tiqker, on Excalibur (XCal) as part of its broader strategy to gain a quantum operational advantage.

Infleqtion, headquartered in the United States, became the first external partner selected for the UK Royal Navy’s XCal programme — a strong sign of the trust and collaboration between the two allied nations in the field of advanced quantum and defence technologies.

The Tiqker Advantage

Infleqtion’s UK General Manager, Ryan Hanley, said, “By putting Tiqker directly on the Royal Navy’s Excalibur (XCal) testbed submarine, we are laying the foundation for fleets to navigate, coordinate, and operate with precision in any environment.”

The Tiqker system provides several operational advantages:

• Unmatched accuracy in maintaining time over long underwater missions.

• Improved navigation and sonar coordination in the absence of GNSS.

• Enhanced synchronization for secure communications and onboard systems.

• Reduced reliance on external references or recalibration intervals.

The trial involved multiple dives under operational conditions, confirming Tiqker’s durability and stability in real-world naval environments — a vital proof point for future Royal Navy and NATO missions.

Engineering Validation and Future Prospects

Matthew Troughton, Engineering Director at MSubs Ltd, a UK-based submarine manufacturer, remarked: “Integrating a quantum clock onto XCal demonstrates how advanced timing can redefine what autonomous submarines are capable of. This trial points the way to platforms that can operate independently for longer durations, with the precision and reliability needed for future undersea missions.”

The trial also validates the UK’s growing commitment to quantum-enabled defence systems, a strategic area where Anglo-American cooperation continues to deepen. The successful demonstration sets the stage for future quantum navigation packages across next-generation AUVs, unmanned surface vessels, and even space applications.

Strategic Significance

The UK Ministry of Defence has prioritized quantum timing and sensing technologies under its Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) roadmap. Infleqtion’s success aligns perfectly with this vision, bolstering the United Kingdom’s efforts to secure quantum sovereignty while drawing upon U.S. expertise and industrial partnerships.

For Infleqtion, this achievement follows the announcement of its planned merger with Churchill Capital Corp X, a move expected to strengthen its investment base and accelerate product deployment across defence and aerospace sectors.

The integration of Infleqtion’s Tiqker quantum optical atomic clock into the Royal Navy’s Excalibur submarine marks a historic moment in underwater navigation. It demonstrates the growing technological synergy between the United States and the United Kingdom, both at the forefront of quantum defence innovation.

By merging American quantum engineering with British naval expertise, the project has delivered a clear message: the future of submarine warfare and autonomous operations will be defined by quantum precision, ensuring that fleets can operate with confidence, accuracy, and independence — no matter how deep or disconnected from the surface they go.