Arqit and Blue Bear successfully demonstrate quantum safe military drones
July 15 2022 - 5:30AM
Arqit Quantum Inc. (“Arqit”), a leader in quantum encryption
technology, and Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd. (“Blue Bear”), a
pioneering supplier of unmanned and autonomous systems for defence
and civil customers, today announced the successful demonstration
of a quantum safe communication channel to secure data
transmissions—powered by Arqit’s QuantumCloud™ technology hosted
on Blue Bear’s Smart Connect™ device, an ‘inter-swarm’ autonomy
brain that tasks multiple uncrewed systems to deliver collaborative
multi-domain missions.
This is the first time C4ISR quantum safe
communications with rotating symmetric keys has been enabled using
a lightweight software protocol for small drones.
On 29 June and 12 July 2022, Blue Bear
simulated and flew mock ISR (Information Surveillance and
Reconnaissance) missions using their ATAK-hosted Centurion™ mission
system for C2 (Command and Control) of a drone using full symmetric
encryption of task and target data secured by Arqit’s symmetric key
agreement platform. During the mission, image data of potential
targets was encrypted and relayed securely using Arqit’s quantum
safe communications tunnel. Additionally, through active
authorisation of endpoints and frequent rotation of symmetric keys,
the attack surface area was limited and perfect secrecy of the data
was achieved.
The combined Arqit and Blue Bear’s quantum safe
communication solution is scalable. It can be applied to any data
transmission path between operators, mission systems and
crewed/uncrewed vehicles. The solution can be used on any open or
closed network in C2 of air, land or sea borne systems and is
agnostic of the communication bearers (e.g. point-to-point
datalinks, mesh datalinks, 5G, SATCOM, fibre and optical
links).
Arqit Founder, Chairman and CEO, David
Williams, said: “We are pleased to prove that Arqit is the
solution of choice for future proofed protection of highly dynamic
assets like swarming drones. The versatility of Arqit’s symmetric
key agreement software agent means it can instantly layer into any
part of the battlespace network stack with full compatibility and
interoperability with existing network infrastructure, protocols
and quantum safe encryption algorithms. The promise of Multi Domain
Integration can only be met with stronger, simpler encryption.”
Blue Bear CEO, Dr Yoge Patel,
said: “Integrating Arqit’s technology onto our Smart
Connect™ avionics gives our customers an operational advantage in
multi-domain operations and beyond. With authentication on a
continuous basis, even if an asset becomes compromised it can be
deactivated in real time. This has not been seen before. Our
demonstration with Arqit represents a milestone development in the
security of crewed and uncrewed applications.”
About Arqit
Arqit supplies a unique quantum encryption
Platform-as-a-Service which makes the communications links of any
networked device secure against current and future forms of attack
– even from a quantum computer. Arqit’s product, QuantumCloud™,
enables any device to download a lightweight software agent, which
can create encryption keys in partnership with any other device.
The keys are computationally secure, optionally one-time use and
zero trust. QuantumCloud™ can create limitless volumes of keys in
limitless group sizes and can regulate the secure entrance and exit
of a device in a group. The addressable market for QuantumCloud™ is
every connected device.
About Blue Bear
Blue Bear are pioneers of autonomy and unmanned
systems; evolving unmanned concepts, regardless of size, at a pace
unmatched by other organisations. We deliver efficient solutions,
professional services and commercial results, supporting both
military and civil markets worldwide, with unmatched pace, agility,
passion and innovation. Blue Bear’s track record in innovative
research and flight tests has won us several awards and positioned
the company at the leading edge of UAS development in the UK and
Europe.
Blue Bears Smart Connect™, having been deployed
for 5 years, successfully brings different and multiple UAS into
highly autonomous collaborative swarms for UK militaries. It is
used to scale combat mass in MDO by acting as the gateway to
autonomy algorithms through its modular, expandable and platform
agnostic architecture.
Media relations enquiries:
Arqit: contactus@arqit.uk
FTI Consulting: scarqit@fticonsulting.com
Investor relations enquiries:
Arqit: investorrelations@arqit.uk
Gateway: arqit@gatewayir.com
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