See more, see further with C5ISR Center and Quantum Sensing

FORT BELVOIR, Va. — As people travel, it’s second nature to utilize GPS. However, what happens when GPS is not an option? For the Army, the answer is quantum technology.

The U.S. Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center has partnered with industry leaders and Army Research Laboratory to advance the Army’s quantum sensing efforts.

Technical experts with the C5ISR Center believe quantum technologies such as quantum sensing will benefit the Army — enhancing capabilities in the critical mission areas of ISR; communications; logistics; biomedical imaging; and positioning, navigation and timing (PNT). Quantum sensing can also augment or improve GPS, especially in environments where GPS is denied.

So, what is quantum sensing?

“Quantum sensing is technology that utilizes atomic interactions to detect miniscule changes in electric and magnetic fields, light and even gravity with higher sensitivity and accuracy than traditional sensors,” said Jayson Foster, C5ISR Center’s Quantum Sensing project lead.

The Army needs continual technological advancements to maintain its operational superiority and to out-pace near-peer adversaries. Quantum sensing can provide that technological edge, Foster said. Quantum sensing can offer several advantages for the Army in many tactical environments that use the radio spectrum by expanding coverage and the effective range of Army systems — all from a significantly reduced footprint.

Electromagnetic warfare, command and control communications and ISR are all mission sets with capabilities that could benefit from the technological advancements of quantum sensors.

“Our program is very specifically focused on novel technologies for radio receivers, which we hope will lead to capability increases in range for radio communication and the ability to exert control over the entire frequency spectrum,” Foster said. “Quantum technology will help us see further, see more, and be able to locate targets with incredible precision. This will allow our Soldiers to operate safely outside the range of enemy systems to perform their missions.”

The C5ISR Center collaborates with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and other federally funded research and development centers. The goal is to help guide government and industry investments based on Army requirements and capability gaps. These partnerships can help to better align technology focus areas, ensuring the dominance of Army capabilities by creating, integrating, and delivering tech-enabled solutions to warfighters.

“C5ISR Center provides the venue and technical expertise for operationally relevant experimentation events for government and industry to test state-of-the-art technology in realistic operational and electromagnetic environments,” Foster said. “Quantum sensing has already changed how the military functions. Quantum sensing has changed life expectancy via medical imaging. In almost every fundamental measurement quantity, quantum sensors are the highest performance and most accurate for frequency, time, magnetism, gravity and force measurements.”

The Center has published and distributed experimentational results for quantum sensors. These results have informed programs across the DoD and government. The C5ISR Center will demonstrate a quantum sensor proof-of-concept prototype in fiscal year 2026.

“The Center will continue help mature this technology to quickly to get it in the hands of Soldiers,” Foster said.

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The U.S. Army Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Center is the Army’s applied research and advanced technology development center for C5ISR capabilities. As the Army’s primary integrator of C5ISR technologies and systems, DEVCOM C5ISR Center supports our networked Warfighters by identifying, developing, maturing, and rapidly integrating innovative technologies to drive continuous transformation.

DEVCOM C5ISR Center is an asset of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. DEVCOM is Army Futures Command’s leader and integrator within a global ecosystem of scientific exploration and technological innovation. DEVCOM expertise spans eight major competency areas to provide integrated research, development, analysis and engineering support to the Army and DOD. From rockets to robots, drones to dozers, and aviation to artillery – DEVCOM innovation is at the core of the combat capabilities American Warfighters need to win on the battlefield of the future. For more information, visit c5isrcenter.devcom.army.mil.