U.K. Royal Navy Tests Quantum Clock on Uncrewed Submarine, First Use Underwater

The U.K. Royal Navy has completed a milestone trial by deploying quantum technology aboard an uncrewed submarine for the first time.

The test involved the submarine XV Excalibur operating Infleqtion’s Tiqker quantum optical atomic clock during sea trials, marking the first use of such a device underwater. The experiment was carried out in collaboration with the Submarine Delivery Agency’s Autonomy Unit and submarine manufacturer MSubs.

Submarines cannot fully rely on GPS signals underwater and typically depend on microwave-based clocks, which may drift over time. Quantum optical clocks, such as Tiqker, maintain greater timing accuracy and reduce the need for external signals, allowing submarines to remain submerged and covert for longer periods.

Commander Matthew Steele, Head of Futures in the Royal Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities and Technologies Office, said the experiment was “a first critical step towards understanding how quantum clocks can be deployed on underwater platforms to enable precision navigation and timing in support of prolonged operations.”

According to Infleqtion, Tiqker delivers laboratory-grade timing performance in a compact form suitable for deployment on submarines. It provides a stable time reference, minimizing navigation drift and improving the accuracy of key systems such as sonar, fire control, and secure communications.

The Royal Navy said the trial supports its broader effort to introduce autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and quantum-based technologies into future naval operations.