Tech panel champions near-term quantum efforts in must-pass defense bill

The House Armed Services Committee signed off on a series of tech-centric markups to the fiscal 2024 National Defense Authorization Act during a Wednesday hearing, notably including a provision that would fund the first quantum pilot program focusing on developing quantum-applied technologies that are near completion.

The proposed changes, drafted by the Armed Services’ Cyber, Information Technologies and Innovation subcommittee, were unanimously approved in a voice vote during the first markup hearing of the week.

Chief among the accepted suggestions was a new pilot program to help advance near-term quantum computing applied technologies. The Department of Defense and a new federally-funded research center would work with quantum technology industry partners to oversee the program’s projects.

These entities together would need to create and submit a plan for the pilot’s operating methodology and then provide annual reports on the scope of work conducted within the pilot program.

Qualifying near-term quantum applications must have a deadline of under a year, and include algorithms, supportive or enabling-technologies, annealing and gate systems — two different quantum computing models — and all qubit modalities.

The provisions encourage quantum-hybrid applications — which would marry systems working with both classical and quantum computing techniques — to be included in the pilot program.

The markups also mandate safeguarding the intellectual property of these emerging technologies tailored for warfighter uses, calling on Defense to craft a new strategy for developing tech systems.

Such a potential strategy could include developing machine learning tools to help identify possible future technologies, the provision suggests.

Other provisions suggested in the approved markups include updating DOD’s cybersecurity organization and expanding cyber auxiliary programs.

The fresh emphasis on incorporating quantum technology development into DOD operations highlights Congress’ growing interest in the emerging technology, following a slew of previous executive orders and bills relevant to increasedU.S. investment in quantum information sciences research.