Quantum technology provider Infleqtion (NYSE: INFQ) has been awarded £9 million (~$12 million USD) in funding from Innovate UK under the Quantum Missions Primer program to advance its deployable Quantum Radio Frequency (QRF) direction-finding system.
The grant supports Phase 2 of the Quantum Direction Finding (QuDiFi) program, focusing on transitioning Infleqtion’s Quantum Spectrum-DF product from prototype testing to operational deployment. Developed in collaboration with defense and aerospace group Leonardo, the system utilizes Rydberg atoms to detect, characterize, and locate radio signals using optical techniques rather than traditional antenna arrays. By bypassing the physical footprint and size constraints of low-frequency antenna structures, Rydberg-atom sensing enables broadband, passive direction finding across space-constrained mobile, aerospace, and defense platforms.
| [ QuDiFi Phase 2 Program Breakdown ] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parameter / Metric | Project Detail | Operational Impact & Technology Focus |
| • Funding & Sponsor | • £9 million (~$12M USD) via Innovate UK | • Awarded under the UKRI Quantum Missions Primer framework. |
| • Product Line | • Quantum Spectrum-DF | • Dual-use Rydberg-atom quantum radio frequency (QRF) direction-finding system. |
| • Key Industry Partner | • Leonardo (Electronics / Defense) | • Joint evaluation of SWaP (size, weight, and power) reductions across defense platforms. |
| • Sensing Mechanism | • Optical Rydberg-Atom Detection | • Replaces traditional antenna arrays with atomic sensors for passive, broadband RF detection. |
| • Primary Applications | • Defense & Infrastructure Security | • Spectrum surveillance, passive radar, resilient navigation, and threat geolocation. |
The system is designed for dual-use deployment across military defense and commercial infrastructure sectors. This milestone builds on Infleqtion’s launch of its Quantum Spectrum neutral-atom RF sensing category and the expansion of its UK Quantum Innovation Centre and manufacturing facility in Oxford.
Review the official funding press release on the Infleqtion Newsroom here.
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