Leidos Using Quantum Technology to Thwart GPS Jamming

Susceptibility to jamming is a significant military vulnerability of the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal. Through a Defense Innovation Unit contract, Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) is developing an alternative navigation technology that measures variations in the Earth’s magnetic field and harnesses the quantum properties of nitrogen in diamonds. 

“With magnetic navigation (MagNav) there’s no signal to jam,” said Aaron Canciani, manager of the Leidos Transition of Quantum Sensing (TQS) team and a former Air Force scientist who is a pioneer of the technology. “The one thing MagNav does need is a very sensitive magnetometer, which is where quantum comes in.”

Quantum sensing uses microscopic particles that can simultaneously exist in multiple states to more accurately detect aspects of geophysical properties like magnetic fields. Leidos has been doing quantum work for years, applying it to a variety of cyber security and sensing applications. 

“Quantum magnetometers have the potential to greatly increase position and attitude accuracies in magnetic navigation systems,” Canciani said. “Nitrogen vacancy-diamond magnetometers use the crystal structure of a diamond to define a sensing axis in which quantum measurements of the complete vector field can be known to exquisite accuracies.”

The sensor is being developed by Frequency Electronics, Inc. under subcontract to Leidos and in collaboration with MIT Lincoln Lab.

Compared to classic magnetometers, which tend to drift due to reliance on relative measurements, Canciani adds, “These quantum measurements are linked to the magnetic field through fundamental physics-based constants.” 

Ultimately, Leidos intends to fly a MagNav system with the new magnetometer. If successful, the technology has the potential to significantly advance navigation technology for military use.