Australian quantum tech company Q-CTRL has unveiled the first real-world demonstration of a commercially viable quantum navigation system, and it doesn’t need GPS. As dependence on satellite navigation grows, so too does the vulnerability to jamming, spoofing, and cyber threats. Q-CTRL’s innovation may be the answer.
According to the company, this new quantum tech is already proving to be up to 50 times more accurate than traditional GPS backups. In a world where GPS disruption impacts up to 1,000 flights daily, this advancement could reshape everything from military defense to commercial aviation and autonomous vehicles.
Modern navigation depends almost entirely on Global Positioning Systems (GPS). But GPS isn’t invincible—it can be jammed, spoofed, or outright denied, especially in warfare or during cyberattacks. Q-CTRL highlights that daily GPS jamming already disrupts nearly 1,000 flights worldwide, with estimated economic costs reaching $1 billion per day.
This growing risk has pushed defense organizations and commercial sectors alike to look for robust, independent alternatives to GPS, and Q-CTRL may have delivered just that.
Q-CTRL’s new system, named Ironstone Opal, ditches satellites altogether. Instead, it uses quantum sensors that can read subtle variations in Earth’s magnetic field—essentially using the planet’s own magnetic “fingerprint” to determine location.
The navigation system is passive, meaning it emits no signals and cannot be detected or jammed. It is powered by AI-enhanced software that performs what Q-CTRL calls “software ruggedization,” filtering out noise and interference caused by vibrations or electromagnetic fields. Despite its complexity, the system is compact, making it suitable for use in cars, drones, aircraft, and autonomous systems.
During rigorous field tests—both on the ground and in the air—Q-CTRL confirmed that the system could operate entirely independently of GPS. It wasn’t just functional—it was remarkably superior, performing 50 times better than standard Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), which are often used as fallback options when GPS fails. Q-CTRL compared the system’s precision to “hitting a bullseye from 1,000 yards.”
Even when installed in a plane, where electronic interference is significantly greater, the quantum navigation system still outperformed traditional systems by a factor of 11. This milestone is a major moment in tech history—it’s what experts refer to as achieving “quantum advantage,” where quantum technology delivers better performance than conventional tools in real-world applications.
This is the first instance of quantum sensors being proven to outperform legacy systems in active military or commercial scenarios.
The stealthy, jam-resistant, and hyper-accurate nature of Ironstone Opal makes it especially valuable for defense applications. Countries like Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom are expected to explore their integration into mission-critical systems. But the implications stretch beyond defense.
It opens new possibilities for autonomous vehicles that need uninterrupted positioning data, especially in urban canyons or underground. Commercial aviation may also benefit, especially in conflict zones or environments where GPS signals are weak or unreliable. Maritime navigation, mining operations, and even space missions could see practical advantages as well.
“This is our first major system release,” said Q-CTRL founder Michael Biercuk, “and we’re excited that there will be much more to come as we introduce new quantum-assured navigation technologies tailored to other commercial and defense platforms.” He added, “We’re thrilled to be the global pioneer in taking quantum sensing from research to the field, being the first to enable real capabilities that have previously been little more than a dream.”
The foundational research and findings behind Ironstone Opal are now publicly available through the preprint journal arXiv.
