Saab UK, Aquark Technologies and Royal Navy Complete World-First Quantum Timing Radar Trial

Key Takeaways

World-First Demonstration: Saab UK, Aquark Technologies and the Royal Navy DCTO completed a trial showing a distributed Giraffe 1X radar network can maintain a coherent air picture using independent quantum timing sources without GNSS timing.

Coherent Operational Picture: Multiple Giraffe 1X radars at separate locations tracked live targets and combined their data into a single accurate air picture under representative GNSS-denied and GNSS-spoofed conditions.

Resilience Under Disruption: The network showed predictable performance degradation when timing errors were introduced and rapid recovery when synchronisation was re-established.

Saab UK, Aquark Technologies and the Royal Navy Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office (DCTO) have successfully completed a UK trial demonstrating how a military radar network can continue operating without GNSS timing. The trial integrated Saab’s Giraffe 1X radar capability with Aquark’s AQlock quantum technology and is believed to be a world-first demonstration of a distributed high-performance military radar network maintaining a coherent operational picture using independent quantum timing sources. The trial showed Giraffe 1X radars operating at separate locations could continue combining tracking data into a single, accurate air picture even when satellite-based timing was unavailable or compromised.

Independent Quantum Timing Enables Network Coherence

Modern radar networks require precise time synchronisation to fuse data from multiple sensors into a unified air picture. Conventional timing is supplied by Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) such as GPS. These signals are vulnerable to jamming, spoofing and disruption in contested environments, which can degrade the quality of the combined radar picture.

During the trial, multiple Giraffe 1X radars tracked live targets while operating with independent AQlock quantum timing sources supplied by Aquark Technologies. Controlled timing errors were then introduced to replicate GNSS spoofing and denial scenarios. The demonstration confirmed successful operation of the radars at separate locations using the independent quantum sources, generation of a single coherent air picture without GNSS timing, predictable performance degradation under disruption, rapid recovery when synchronisation was re-established, and continued operation under representative GNSS-denied and GNSS-spoofed conditions.

Key confirmed outcomes included:

  • Successful operation of Giraffe 1X radars at separate locations using independent quantum timing sources.
  • Generation of a single, coherent air picture without GNSS timing.
  • Predictable performance degradation under timing disruption.
  • Rapid recovery when synchronisation was re-established.
  • Continued operation under representative GNSS-denied and GNSS-spoofed conditions.

Quantum timing systems such as AQlock, Aquark’s cold-atom-based atomic clock technology, can maintain highly accurate time for much longer than conventional technologies without relying on GPS or other external signals. This allows critical systems to remain synchronised and continue operating effectively when satellite-based timing services are unavailable, disrupted or compromised.

Collaborative Defence Innovation for Contested Environments

The trial brought together Saab UK, Aquark Technologies, the Royal Navy and QinetiQ. It highlights the role of collaborative innovation in developing next-generation defence capabilities for increasingly contested operating environments.

Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director at Saab UK, stated: “This trial is a great example of how collaboration can accelerate innovation. By combining quantum timing technology with Saab’s advanced Giraffe 1X radar system, we have demonstrated a practical capability that could help customers continue to operate effectively when it matters most.”

For operators, the capability provides a coherent view of the battlespace and supports effective decision-making if satellite-based timing services cannot be trusted. The result demonstrates a practical UK application of quantum timing technology in defence and a path for integrating cold-atom timing into military radar networks.

Bottom Line

Saab, Aquark and Royal Navy partners demonstrated resilient quantum-timed Giraffe 1X radar networking independent of satellite timing.

Find out more here.

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