Infleqtion operated its Tiqker optical atomic clock continuously aboard the U.S. Navy’s RV Merlin support vessel, also in support of the BARB-26 U.S. Navy exercise

Infleqtion, a global leader in quantum computing and quantum sensing powered by neutral atom technology, demonstrated quantum timing capabilities to support navigation using the company’s Tiqker optical atomic clock. The demonstration took place during the Maritime Big Play Pacific (MBP-P) military exercise, an event sponsored by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering with participation from across the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and Australia and UK (AUKUS) partners. During this exercise, Infleqtion operated Tiqker continuously aboard the U.S. Navy support vessel, RV Merlin, for two weeks in the Southern California (SOCAL) operating area.

This demonstration also supported BARB-26, a U.S. Navy exercise focused on emerging subsea and seabed warfare capabilities, in alignment with MBP-P. The demonstration provided an opportunity to evaluate precision timing technology in a maritime operational environment and inform future naval integration.

“The Navy needs dependable timing to navigate, communicate and coordinate operations in the field,” said Matthew Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion. “The Maritime Big Play Pacific and BARB-26 demonstration gives us an opportunity to put Tiqker through sustained testing at sea and gather the operational data needed to advance its integration into naval platforms. This is an important step toward validating quantum capabilities for real-world applications.”

The exercise was conducted to demonstrate Tiqker’s mission impact across a range of operational conditions, above and below the surface, and with both manned and unmanned systems. Tiqker operated continuously for over two weeks at sea through large temperature swings and sustained vibration. Ultimately, the exercise helps show how precision timing, independent of GPS, keeps the Navy operating when it matters most. For forward-deployed, expeditionary forces, that reliability supports the Joint Force’s ability to project power and deter adversaries.

Tiqker is Infleqtion’s compact, rugged optical atomic clock, which uses the precise optical transitions of atoms to provide a highly stable timing reference. Designed for deployment beyond the laboratory, Tiqker can maintain precise local timing when GPS signals are unavailable, jammed, or spoofed. For the Navy, that capability can support synchronization of communications, radar, and other onboard systems. By reducing dependence on satellite-derived timing, Tiqker can help strengthen mission continuity across multiple platforms.

The demonstration builds on Tiqker’s previous trials at sea and in the air, including a 2025 deployment aboard the UK Royal Navy’s uncrewed submarine testbed, XV Excalibur, where it operated during multiple dives. Tiqker also completed UK flight trials in 2024 aboard QinetiQ’s RJ100 Airborne Technology Demonstrator, in collaboration with QinetiQ and BAE Systems.

To learn more about Infleqtion’s Tiqker optical atomic clock capabilities, visit: Tiqker Optical Atomic Clock | Infleqtion.