A group of three US defense and technology companies is examining how quantum computing could significantly enhance American air and missile defense systems. California-based D-Wave Quantum has partnered with Anduril Industries and Davidson Technologies to explore whether quantum-enabled solutions can improve the speed and effectiveness of missile defense decision-making.
As part of an initial proof-of-concept, the companies combined Anduril’s defense simulation environment, Davidson’s operational mission-planning expertise, and D-Wave’s Advantage2 quantum computer. The collaborative effort focused on determining how quantum algorithms could optimize threat response strategies in highly complex, time-sensitive defense scenarios.
Using D-Wave’s Stride hybrid quantum solver, the team evaluated solution quality, scalability, and response time when countering simulated missile attacks. According to the participants, the quantum-based approach produced solutions up to ten times faster than current defense planning systems, while also improving threat mitigation effectiveness by approximately 12 percent.
In one high-intensity scenario involving a coordinated 500-missile attack, the quantum-enabled system was able to intercept 60 more missiles than conventional defense methods. The results suggest that quantum computing could play a pivotal role in future US missile defense architectures, offering faster decision cycles and improved defensive outcomes in large-scale conflict environments.
