Indian Military Quantum technology: India is now taking a big step to use quantum technology in its military cyber operations. This is a huge change from how things were done before. The military is looking at new tools like quantum computing, communication, and sensing all based on strange but powerful ideas from quantum science. These tools were once just experiments in labs. Now, they are being tested for real-world use in defence.
On 26 March 2025, the Southern Command held a special seminar in Pune. The event was called “Quantum Technology: Impact on Future Wars and Way Forward.” It clearly showed India’s strong focus on these new tools. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, who leads the Southern Command, gave an important speech. In that speech, he talked about how the military plans to bring quantum technology into its systems, reported by Times Now.
Quantum tools are now being looked at to protect secret networks, guard important systems, and face the new ways that war is changing.
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Why Quantum Is Special for Defence
Quantum technology is based on the science of quantum mechanics. In this strange world, tiny particles can do things that sound impossible. For example, they can be in many states at the same time. This is called superposition. They can also affect each other instantly even if they are far apart. This is called entanglement.
These unique behaviours help quantum systems do things that are hard for regular machines. That includes protecting information, sensing things more accurately, and solving hard problems. These skills are very useful in defence and cyber work.
The military is mainly looking at three kinds of quantum tools. First is quantum computing. These computers use “qubits” and can solve really hard problems faster than normal ones. Second is quantum communication. This lets the military send messages that no one can secretly read. And third is quantum sensing. This can help with super accurate navigation, spying, and finding threats. But to really work, these tools need to be part of a bigger cyber plan.
How Quantum Tools Will Change Cyber Warfare
Quantum tools could change everything in the cyber world. One big reason is that quantum computers might break the locks that keep online secrets safe. Right now, many security systems use methods like RSA and elliptic curve cryptography. These are safe from regular computers but could be broken by powerful quantum ones.
To stop this from happening, scientists are building post-quantum cryptography or PQC. These are new ways to lock data that even a quantum computer can’t break. Some of the ideas include lattice-based encryption and hash-based digital signatures.
Quantum tools can also bring other changes in cyber defence. For example, quantum sensors might be able to catch signals coming out of electronic devices. This can tell attackers what those devices are doing.
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Also, quantum communication can make military networks between moving things like drones and vehicles, very safe. In 2024, India tested Quantum Key Distribution or QKD with drones. This showed that real-time, secure field messaging is possible.
In the future, quantum systems may help check how safe today’s cryptography methods are. They could even find weak spots faster than ever before.
Indian Military Quantum technology
India isn’t the only country moving fast in quantum defence. Germany is exploring how quantum sensors could help in cyberattacks, while the U.S. and China are looking at how quantum computers can improve AI and military decision-making.
India’s Army is clearly pushing ahead too. It listed quantum communication as one of 45 key tech areas and is working with top institutes like the IITs. The Army Design Bureau (ADB), which handles new tech, is focusing on quantum tools along with AI, 5G, robotics, and cyber warfare.
In 2021, the Army set up a Quantum Lab at Mhow’s Military College of Telecommunication Engineering. This lab works on quantum key distribution (QKD), quantum computing, and post-quantum cryptography.
By 2024, the Army and Bengaluru’s QuNu Labs showed that QKD could work across 200 km. This system creates secure keys using quantum particles, and if anyone tries to steal them, the system detects it instantly. It offers better security than current methods.
This success is a step toward building quantum-safe networks. In January 2024, the Army Chief also said that ADB’s quantum computing trials were close to completion.
Working Towards Quantum Strength
India is also working with others to grow its quantum abilities. These partners include startups, universities, the DRDO, and government offices. One early sign of the Army’s interest in quantum came from the problem statements it shared. These called for new ideas to fight quantum dangers.
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The Innovation for Defence Excellence (iDEX) program has helped a lot. This is a Defence Ministry platform to connect with startups. The ADB used iDEX to sponsor challenges focused on quantum tech.
One big result is the joint project with QNu Labs. This project started through iDEX’s open innovation scheme and was backed by the ADB and the Army’s Signals Directorate. The goal was to build a QKD system using local technology.
By mid-2022, they had already tested a secure quantum link across 150 km of optical fibre. This test proved that QKD works in real-life settings. The Army’s Quantum Lab was also built with help from IIT experts, scientists, the DRDO, and support from the National Security Council Secretariat.
