Australia has world-class quantum talent. But without testbeds, procurement pathways and clear missions, that promise won’t translate into capability. While Australia has clear strengths in quantum computing, it will be a long-term undertaking, though one we should nonetheless commit to. Quantum sensing, however, provides a bridge, offering a field where Australia can lead today if we act with speed and clarity.
Quantum computing gets the headlines. It is a focus of global investment, driven by the promise of breaking modern encryption, discovering new materials and solving optimisation problems too complex for today’s machines. But the reality is that large-scale quantum computers are still many years away. Even under optimistic forecasts, they remain a long-term bet. Meanwhile, quantum sensing is already delivering results, and it may be the most strategic opportunity Australia has to lead in a critical emerging domain.
Quantum sensors work by detecting minute changes in gravity, magnetism or time with extreme precision. They turn the sensitivity that makes quantum systems hard to control into an advantage. This enables applications that cannot be achieved with conventional tools. Two examples stand out: gravimeters, which can detect acceleration to track object positioning, as well as scan for underground voids, water tables or mineral deposits; and magnetometers, which can track known variations in the Earth’s magnetic field to support navigation.
The strategic relevance becomes clearer when applied to positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) systems. Most modern systems, from ports to power grids, rely on satellite signals. But these are easy to jam or spoof, as demonstrated repeatedly during the war in Ukraine. Quantum sensors offer an alternative. Quantum gravimeters could improve inertial navigation, which measures movement over time. Quantum magnetometers could use the Earth’s own reference field to guide positioning. Both are less vulnerable to interference than satellite signals.
Rather than replacing satellites outright, this would build resilience. Quantum sensors, once integrated into systems, could provide backup or augmentation for PNT functions in military, critical infrastructure or remote settings where satellite coverage is denied.
But quantum sensors alone are not a solution. They must be integrated with control systems, signal processing and software that can interpret the data. The challenge lies in building reliable, field-ready systems, not just lab demonstrations. That is where Australia’s opportunity lies, and where the risks are highest if we delay.
Australia has a pattern of backing breakthrough research but stumbling on the way to deployment. Without real-world standards, testing environments and certification pathways, capability stalls in the lab. But quantum sensing appears to be reaching operational maturity much faster than quantum computing. In some cases, the horizon is not five or 10 years; it is now.
Two Australian companies are already showing what this can look like. Nomad Atomics has developed compact, deployable sensors with in-house manufacturing of delicate components. It received a grant in November to accelerate development of a 3D navigation sensor. That is a promising signal, though still short of a program of record.
Q-CTRL, another standout, is using quantum sensors to refine inertial navigation through magnetic field measurements. Their system has outperformed traditional methods in test flights over Australia and during a demonstration aboard a Royal Australian Navy vessel. Crucially, they have tackled challenges such as platform noise and magnetic interference, which shows that this can actually work in a realistic environment.
While Defence is clearly paying attention, this should not be treated as a defence-only problem. The Department of Home Affairs has already flagged the risks of satellite-signal disruption to critical infrastructure. That is a clear indicator. Quantum sensing could be the foundation of a broader national capability that supports both security and civil resilience.
What is missing is a coordinated strategy to carry that potential forward. Countries such as Britain have begun defining quantum missions with concrete goals that guide investment, signal demand and align public and private actors. Australia should do the same.
That starts with intent. A quantum sensing strategy should bring together Defence, Home Affairs and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. It should also include technical agencies such as the Australian Signals Directorate to ensure systems are secure by design. The strategy should outline capability targets, define certification pathways and tie investment to performance milestones.
Beyond funding, this would reassure founders and investors that there is a path to adoption, that the government is a serious customer, and that success will be measured by outcomes in the field, not just publications or pilots.
Quantum sensing is one of the few frontier technologies where Australia has a real lead. But that advantage is fragile. Without support to field and scale these systems, others will overtake us. It is a race that is being run now, to deploy what already works, and it demands attention today.
Strategic capability depends on more than discovery; it depends on delivery. The sensors are ready. The companies are here. What is needed now is the posture to move.