Insider Brief
- India’s DRDO has officially opened a new Quantum Technology Research Centre (QTRC) in Delhi to advance indigenous quantum capabilities for defense and strategic applications.
- The facility features experimental setups for quantum key distribution, atomic clocks, magnetometers, and secure photonic systems, led by DRDO labs SSPL and SAG.
- QTRC supports the National Quantum Mission and aims to develop sovereign technologies for secure communication, sensing, and post-quantum cryptography.
- Image: DRDO/X
India is showing off its new national facility designed to develop homegrown quantum technology for military and strategic use, the country’s media is reporting. The inauguration is also a signal that the nation is taking a step toward secure communications and advanced sensing in the post-quantum era.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) officially opened the Quantum Technology Research Centre (QTRC) yesterday at Metcalfe House in Delhi, according to ETV Bharat, one of India’s largest national news platforms.The new lab will serve as a hub for quantum experiments related to secure communications, timekeeping, sensing and advanced materials — with applications tailored to defense operations in environments where traditional technologies may fail.
The Ministry of Defence said the facility is equipped with advanced experimental setups aimed at building sovereign capabilities in quantum key distribution, atomic clocks, magnetometers and lasers. These efforts, led by DRDO laboratories including the Scientific Analysis Group (SAG) and the Solid State Physics Laboratory (SSPL), are designed to enable India to operate in a future where quantum computers could undermine today’s encryption systems, according to the article.
Among the capabilities of the QTRC are tools for testing single-photon sources and characterizing specialized lasers such as Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers and Distributed Feedback Lasers, both of which are important in secure optical communications. The center also includes platforms to characterize micro-fabricated alkali vapor cells and validate quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, a critical technology for encrypted communications resistant to attacks from future quantum computers.
ETV Bharat reports that one of the center’s priorities is the development of an ultra-small atomic clock based on coherent population trapping. These clocks could provide precise timing in scenarios where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), like GPS, are unavailable due to jamming or technical failure — a common concern in contested battlefields. Another focus is the atomic magnetometer, which uses optically pumped magnetometry to detect subtle magnetic fields that may be relevant in locating submarines, hidden infrastructure, or conducting medical diagnostics in defense settings.
The facility was officially launched by Dr. Samir V. Kamat, Secretary of Defence R&D and Chairman of DRDO. Also present were Director General Suma Varughese, who helped conceptualize the center, and other senior officials and scientists. According to ETV Bharat, the inauguration underscores DRDO’s commitment to advancing quantum research through domestic efforts, without relying on foreign technologies or systems.
DRDO’s strategy aligns with the broader goals of India’s National Quantum Mission, which aims to position the country as a global player in quantum science and engineering. This includes not only quantum computing but also sensing, communication and secure data practices. As the news service reports, DRDO’s participation reflects its central role in translating this scientific momentum into tangible defense applications.
By controlling its own supply chain and research base, India aims to protect critical infrastructure from future quantum threats, especially those posed by foreign adversaries developing large-scale quantum computers capable of breaking conventional encryption methods. Technologies like quantum key distribution are seen as a frontline defense in this emerging risk landscape.
While the QTRC is primarily aimed at defense applications, the foundational technologies being developed — such as atomic clocks and quantum sensors — could also benefit broader industries, including telecommunications, navigation, and aerospace. As ETV Bharat highlights, the facility is part of DRDO’s long-term effort to seed a sustainable, secure, and sovereign quantum ecosystem in India.
The center will also likely foster collaboration between defense labs, academic institutions, and startups as India moves toward commercialization of dual-use quantum technologies. However, for now, the emphasis remains on strategic independence and readiness in an increasingly contested technological environment, ETV Bharat reports.
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