President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Monday that direct the Pentagon to field three new types of quantum sensors by September 30, 2028, while simultaneously ordering civilian agencies to accelerate adoption of post-quantum cryptography to counter emerging quantum-enabled cyber threats.
Quantum Sensors Move From Labs to Operational Forces
Executive Order 14411, focused on “quantum innovation,” mandates that the Secretary of Defense identify and prioritize at least three next-generation quantum sensor projects within 60 days. These sensors must be deployed to operational forces within 27 months, marking an aggressive timeline for transitioning experimental technology into fielded capability.
Quantum sensors exploit the extreme sensitivity of quantum particles to external interference — a characteristic that has historically hindered quantum computing reliability but proves advantageous for detecting faint signals. The Pentagon has already tested these sensors in airborne and orbital environments for applications including alternative navigation when GPS is jammed, a capability increasingly relevant in contested electronic warfare zones such as Ukraine and the Middle East.
Jack Hidary, CEO of quantum software firm SandBoxAQ, told Breaking Defense that quantum sensing is already viable for navigation in the face of GPS jamming and spoofing. SandBoxAQ previously demonstrated the technology for the Air Force, while other research programs have explored using quantum sensors to detect hostile submarines without active sonar.
Quantum Computing and Networking Get Federal Backing
Beyond sensing, EO 14411 directs the Department of Energy to build at least one reliable, high-performance quantum computer for scientific research. The Pentagon, alongside the NSA and other agencies, is tasked with supporting this initiative to accelerate computational breakthroughs that classical systems cannot achieve.
The order also mandates exploration of quantum networking, a domain where U.S. investment has lagged behind Chinese research and development. Commerce, Energy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation are directed to advance both quantum sensing and networking capabilities.
Post-Quantum Cybersecurity Mandate for Civilian Agencies
The companion Executive Order 14409 addresses the cybersecurity threat posed by future quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption standards. It requires civilian federal agencies and their contractors to transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) — new algorithms resistant to quantum-based decryption.
Notably, the order exempts “national security systems,” meaning the Pentagon and its contractors are already ahead of this mandate. The Defense Department has been implementing PQC for years, and this executive order effectively compels the rest of the federal government to catch up, with the Pentagon serving in an advisory capacity.
What This Means
These executive orders signal a decisive shift from quantum research to operational deployment, compressing timelines that historically spanned decades into just over two years. For the space and defense industry, the mandate to field quantum sensors by 2028 will accelerate supply chain investments, testing regimes, and integration into satellite and aircraft platforms. Meanwhile, the push for post-quantum cryptography across civilian agencies creates a compliance deadline that contractors and technology providers must treat as imminent — the quantum era is no longer theoretical, and the federal government is now forcing the pace.
— Originally reported by Breaking Def.. Adapted and republished with editorial context for SpaceSecurityNews.
