The defence and security landscape is being reshaped by the convergence of advanced technologies: from AI and edge computing to cybersecurity and network resilience. At the heart of the next great leap lies quantum computing, a transformative capability that enables organisations to solve problems previously considered intractable.

In collaboration with QinetiQ, a leading defence technology company, OQC has demonstrated how quantum computing can be used to strengthen the security and resilience of communication networks – one of the most critical assets in modern defence.

The joint study explored how OQC’s Toshiko quantum computer and cloud-based API could power algorithms capable of identifying critical nodes within Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (MANETs): the flexible, rapidly deployable networks that connect forces and assets in dynamic or hostile environments.

This work is not just a technical milestone. It is a strategic signal of how sovereign quantum infrastructure can potentially enhance national resilience, decision-making, and secure communications in an era defined by uncertainty and complexity.

As cyber threats evolve and data volumes multiply, quantum-enabled defence operations will become essential to maintaining a strategic edge.

Why Quantum Matters for Defence and Security
Defence systems depend on networks – networks of communication, information, and logistics. As these systems become increasingly interconnected, understanding their weak points and maintaining operational integrity under pressure becomes paramount.

Traditional supercomputers can model and analyse such networks, but often at great cost and with limitations on scale. Quantum computers have the potential to solve complex optimisation problems more efficiently, using specialised algorithms such as Quantum Approximate Optimisation Algorithm (QAOA). 

In this collaboration, we integrated QinetiQ’s proprietary Quantum Approximate Optimisation Algorithm (QinetiQAOA) with our API and OQC Toshiko system, applying it to real-world MANET challenges. The goal was to identify critical nodes – communication points whose failure or compromise could disrupt an entire network.

The experiment demonstrated that quantum algorithms could successfully identify these key vulnerabilities. Whilst the networks investigated in these experiments were still small enough to be analysed classically, this approach highlights the real operational potential of future large-scale quantum computers for secure, adaptive communications.

The implications extend far beyond this specific test case. Quantum computing holds potential to revolutionise how defence organisations:

• Model communication systems for resilience under stress;
• Optimise logistics and mission planning across dynamic environments;
• Enhance situational awareness by capturing complex structures in data and enrichening feature representations.

As cyber threats evolve and data volumes multiply, quantum-enabled defence operations will become essential to maintaining a strategic edge.

This is a glimpse of quantum decision support – where quantum processors complement existing systems to deliver insights that would otherwise take too long or be too complex to compute.

While the project successfully identified critical nodes within complex communication networks, testing also revealed valuable insights into the current frontiers of quantum performance. At higher levels of complexity (such as networks exceeding 20 nodes) minor errors emerged, likely due to the increased circuit depth and the noise associated with large-scale quantum operations. These findings are an expected and important part of the journey toward scalable, error-tolerant quantum computing.

Sovereign Quantum Capability: The Foundation of Security
As global competition in quantum accelerates, one issue rises above all others for defence: who controls the core compute capability?

By providing cloud-accessible, locally based quantum computing into data centres, we enable trusted partners to explore, prototype, and deploy quantum applications without compromising sovereignty or security.

OQC and QinetiQ: A Partnership Driving Global Leadership
Our partnership with QinetiQ illustrates what happens when enterprise-grade quantum hardware meets defence-sector pragmatism.

Through the use of OQC’s superconducting qubit technology and QinetiQ’s domain-specific algorithms, our collaboration has demonstrated:

• The feasibility of real-world quantum applications in defence contexts;
• The value of sovereign quantum infrastructure for sensitive workloads;
• The UK’s growing leadership in applying quantum to strategic challenges.

OQC’s broader mission to make quantum useful, accessible, and sovereign is now manifesting in partnerships like this, where innovation meets purpose.

As we expand our footprint globally, with commercial systems already in London, Tokyo, and New York, we are  building to be not just a hardware provider but a strategic enabler of national and allied quantum capability.

OQC’s broader mission to make quantum useful, accessible, and sovereign is now manifesting in partnerships like this, where innovation meets purpose.

As we expand our  footprint globally, with commercial systems already in London, Tokyo, and New York, we are  building to be just a hardware provider but a strategic enabler of national and allied quantum capability.

Looking Ahead
Our collaboration with QinetiQ represents a pivotal moment in the journey from theoretical quantum potential to practical, operational value. It has shown that our quantum systems can deliver insights into mission-critical problems today. At a time when security challenges are evolving faster than ever, OQC is ensuring that quantum innovation remains value driven, secure, and strategically aligned – helping nations not only defend the present but prepare for the future.

QinetiQ will look to continue to understand how quantum computation could be used to enhance the UK’s capability in its strategic objectives. Through identifying and assessing relevant defence use-cases in both the medium and longer-term, QinetiQ  aims to apply its deep domain expertise in conjunction with emerging technology, and thus remain a trusted partner in delivering high technology solutions to real-world operational applications.

About OQC
OQC is pioneering the quantum-accelerated world, delivering enterprise-grade quantum systems designed for commercial and strategic advantage. As Europe’s first Quantum-Compute-as-a-Service provider – and the only company integrating quantum computers into commercial data centres – OQC brings quantum capability to the heart of financial and national infrastructure. Our application-optimised compute empowers customers in finance, security, and defence to solve previously intractable problems, reshaping industries and strengthening sovereign advantage.

About QinetiQ
QinetiQ is an integrated global defence and security company focused on mission-led innovation. We employ more than 8,500 highly-skilled people, committed to creating new ways of protecting what matters most; testing technologies, systems, and processes to make sure they meet operational needs; and enabling customers to deploy new and enhanced capabilities with the assurance they will deliver the performance required. 

Visit their website www.QinetiQ.com. Follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter @QinetiQ. Visit their blog www.QinetiQ-blogs.com.