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Infleqtion has successfully tested its quantum optical atomic clock, Tiqker, on the Royal Navy’s Excalibur (XCal) extra-large uncrewed autonomous vehicle (XLUAV), a testbed submarine advancing the UK’s autonomous underwater operations.
Infleqtion claims this deployment is the first time a quantum optical atomic clock has been operated at sea on an underwater autonomous vessel. The trial demonstrated precision timing capabilities equivalent to a national laboratory-grade time reference, essential for resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) in environments where GPS is denied.
Submarines cannot rely entirely on the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for timing and navigation, and traditional microwave-based clocks accumulate drift over time, which degrades accuracy in GPS-denied environments.
High-precision local clocks like Tiqker maintain accurate timing and navigation autonomously, reducing reliance on external signals and enhancing overall operational resilience.
By placing a compact optical clock directly onboard a submarine, the trial showed how Tiqker can provide a steady “time heartbeat” smoothing out the noise that causes navigation drift. This capability enables submarines to remain submerged, accurate, and hidden for longer durations.
Tiqker also provides a precise onboard reference for other critical submarine systems such as sonar, fire control, and secure communications, improving mission performance across multiple domains.
The trial confirmed Tiqker’s ability to operate reliably during multiple dives, validating its rugged design for real-world naval deployment. While additional performance benchmarking against high-grade time standards will follow, the trial emphasizes the feasibility of deploying advanced quantum timing solutions in challenging maritime conditions.
Commander Matthew Steele, Head of Futures in the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office, stated, “This experiment was a first critical step towards understanding how quantum clocks can be deployed on underwater platforms to enable precision navigation and timing (PNT) in support of prolonged operations. The DCTO looks forward to championing further trials of quantum-based navigation technologies, such as Tiqker, onboard Excalibur as we seek to deliver quantum operational advantage for the Royal Navy.”
Ryan Hanley, General Manager UK, Infleqtion, added, “By putting Tiqker directly on the Royal Navy’s Excalibur (XCal) testbed submarine, a next-generation autonomous platform, we are laying the foundation for fleets to navigate, coordinate, and operate with precision in any environment. We are grateful to the Royal Navy for their continued partnership on cutting-edge quantum technology trials accelerating adoption into naval operations.”
Matthew Troughton, Engineering Director, MSubs Ltd., also commented, “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 Tiqker system represents a development in compact, deployable quantum timing, advancing Infleqtion’s broader portfolio of quantum sensing technologies and reinforcing its position as a trusted quantum partner for national defense.
Infleqtion is the first external technology partner invited to participate in the XCal program, and has plans to go public through a merger with Churchill Capital Corp X.
