IonQ Secures $28 Million DARPA Contract Extension to Scale Production of Advanced Optical Atomic Clocks for U.S. Defense Applications
IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), a global leader in quantum computing, networking, sensing, and secure quantum technologies, has announced that it has received a $28 million contract extension under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) It’s About Time program. The new award marks another significant milestone in the company’s growing role in developing advanced timing technologies for U.S. government and defense applications.
The contract extension will enable IonQ to significantly expand production capabilities for its Evergreen-05 optical atomic clocks, one of the world’s most compact and highly accurate optical timing systems. As part of the agreement, the company will manufacture and deliver 125 Evergreen-05 units to U.S. government customers while strengthening its manufacturing infrastructure to support future demand.
The program highlights the increasing strategic importance of precision timing technologies in modern defense systems, where accurate synchronization is essential for critical military and national security operations.
Strengthening America’s Next-Generation Timing Infrastructure
Precision timing has become one of the most valuable technological assets for modern defense and communications systems. Advanced military platforms increasingly rely on ultra-accurate clocks to coordinate operations, maintain secure communications, support navigation, and ensure the effectiveness of radar and surveillance systems.
Under the DARPA contract extension, IonQ will continue developing scalable manufacturing processes for the Evergreen-05 optical atomic clock while transitioning the technology toward larger-volume production. The initiative represents an important step in moving cutting-edge laboratory innovations into practical field-deployable systems capable of supporting national defense requirements.
The production of 125 advanced optical atomic clocks will help strengthen the United States’ timing infrastructure while supporting mission-critical applications that demand exceptional precision under challenging operating conditions.
Evergreen-05 Delivers Exceptional Timing Accuracy
At the center of the contract is the Evergreen-05 optical atomic clock, a compact, fully integrated optical timing system originally developed through DARPA’s Robust Optical Clock Network program.
Unlike conventional atomic clocks that often require bulky installations and specialized facilities, the Evergreen-05 has been engineered into a remarkably compact package with a volume of only five liters, approximately the size of a shoebox. Despite its small footprint, the system delivers performance levels traditionally associated with much larger laboratory-grade equipment.
The clock achieves timing stability of approximately 50 femtoseconds after one second, providing extraordinary precision that enables highly accurate synchronization across demanding operational environments.
One of its most remarkable capabilities is its nanosecond holdover performance over a ten-day period, allowing the clock to maintain highly accurate timing even when disconnected from external synchronization sources. Based on its projected long-term accuracy, the Evergreen-05 would accumulate less than one second of timing error over approximately 30 million years, illustrating the extraordinary stability of the technology.
Compact Size with Superior Performance
One of the key advantages of the Evergreen-05 is its ability to outperform much larger legacy timing systems while occupying only a fraction of the space.
Compared with traditional active hydrogen masers, which have long been considered the gold standard for ultra-precise frequency references, the Evergreen-05 offers:
- Better phase noise performance
- Superior short-term timing stability
- Comparable long-term frequency drift
- Dramatically reduced size and weight
Perhaps most notably, the Evergreen-05 delivers this level of performance while requiring only one-seventy-fifth of the physical volume of an active hydrogen maser.
This significant reduction in size opens new opportunities for integrating optical atomic clocks into mobile and tactical platforms where conventional laboratory-grade timing equipment would be impractical.
Designed for Real-World Military Operations
IonQ has engineered the Evergreen-05 specifically for deployment across demanding operational environments rather than limiting it to laboratory use.
Its rugged tactical packaging and expanded environmental operating range allow the clock to function effectively across a wide variety of defense platforms, including:
- Ground-based military systems
- Maritime vessels
- Airborne platforms
- Mobile communications infrastructure
- Radar installations
- Precision navigation systems
These capabilities make the clock particularly valuable for missions where dependable timing must be maintained despite vibration, changing temperatures, movement, or temporary loss of satellite-based synchronization.
Applications include secure military communications, advanced radar systems, electronic warfare, precision geolocation, autonomous systems, intelligence gathering, and resilient positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) operations.
Long-Term DARPA Support Accelerates Innovation
The latest contract extension represents the continuation of a relationship between DARPA and the technology behind Evergreen-05 that dates back to 2019.
At that time, DARPA selected Vector Atomic, then a young startup based in Pleasanton, California, to develop advanced optical clock technologies under the agency’s research initiatives.
The early funding helped establish the scientific and engineering foundations that ultimately evolved into the Evergreen-05 platform now entering scaled production.
Recognizing the strategic importance of Vector Atomic’s expertise, IonQ acquired the company in October 2025, expanding its capabilities beyond quantum computing into quantum positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) technologies.
The acquisition strengthened IonQ’s portfolio by combining world-class quantum computing systems with advanced sensing and precision timing technologies, enabling the company to address a broader range of commercial and government opportunities.
Leadership Highlights Strategic Importance
IonQ Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Niccolo de Masi described the contract extension as validation of the company’s strategic decision to acquire Vector Atomic.
He noted that Vector Atomic’s clocks and sensing technologies represented some of the most advanced systems available worldwide, making the acquisition a natural fit for IonQ’s long-term vision of building an integrated quantum technology platform.
According to de Masi, DARPA’s continued investment through the It’s About Time program reinforces confidence in the technology and confirms the value of bringing Vector Atomic into the IonQ organization.
Company leadership believes the expanded partnership will help accelerate production while strengthening the United States’ technological leadership in quantum-enabled timing systems.
Founders Emphasize DARPA’s Early Support
Marty Boyd, Director of IonQ’s Timekeeping Division and co-founder of Vector Atomic, emphasized the important role DARPA has played throughout the technology’s development.
He explained that the agency’s initial support was instrumental in demonstrating the feasibility of the core optical clock concepts during the company’s earliest stages.
Boyd noted that joining IonQ provided the manufacturing resources, engineering capabilities, and commercial infrastructure necessary to transition the technology from advanced research into scalable production.
The continued DARPA partnership now provides the opportunity to expand manufacturing capacity while delivering commercial-quality products to government customers.
Major Investment in Manufacturing Capacity
To support the delivery of the Evergreen-05 systems under the DARPA program, IonQ plans to invest approximately $15 million in expanding its manufacturing operations.
The investment will fund several key initiatives, including:
- Construction of dedicated production facilities
- Installation of advanced manufacturing equipment
- Expansion of precision testing infrastructure
- Recruitment of additional engineering and production personnel
- Increased quality assurance capabilities
These investments are intended to establish scalable manufacturing processes capable of supporting both current government contracts and future commercial demand for precision optical timing systems.
The expansion also reflects IonQ’s broader strategy of building domestic manufacturing capabilities for strategically important quantum technologies.
Expanding Beyond Quantum Computing
Although IonQ is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading quantum computing companies, the acquisition of Vector Atomic has significantly broadened its technology portfolio.
Today, IonQ operates across several interconnected quantum technology markets, including:
- Quantum computing
- Quantum networking
- Quantum sensing
- Precision timing
- Quantum security
This diversified approach positions the company to deliver integrated quantum solutions addressing challenges across government, defense, research, healthcare, financial services, logistics, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing.
Growing Leadership in Quantum Technology
IonQ continues to expand its reputation as one of the leading innovators in quantum technology.
The company’s latest quantum computing platform, IonQ Tempo, represents the newest generation of its commercial quantum systems. Earlier generations have supported organizations including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA, enabling significant improvements in computational performance for applications such as drug discovery, materials science, optimization, financial modeling, logistics planning, cybersecurity, and defense research.
In 2025, IonQ also achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, establishing a new benchmark for quantum computing performance and demonstrating continued progress toward reliable, fault-tolerant quantum systems.
Global Operations Supporting Diverse Markets
Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has expanded into an international technology company with operations spanning the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, South Korea, and several additional locations.
Its quantum computing platforms are accessible through major cloud providers, allowing researchers, enterprises, and government organizations worldwide to develop and deploy quantum applications without maintaining specialized hardware.
At the same time, the company’s sensing and timing technologies are increasingly supporting customers operating across land, sea, air, and space, reflecting the growing convergence between quantum computing and advanced precision instrumentation.
Outlook
The $28 million DARPA contract extension represents more than a production award—it demonstrates growing confidence in optical atomic clocks as a critical enabling technology for future defense capabilities. By scaling manufacturing of the Evergreen-05 and investing $15 million in production infrastructure, IonQ is positioning itself to become a leading supplier of next-generation precision timing systems for the U.S. government.
As defense operations become increasingly dependent on resilient positioning, navigation, communications, and synchronized mission execution, compact optical atomic clocks are expected to play an increasingly vital role. Through continued collaboration with DARPA and strategic investments in manufacturing, IonQ is advancing technologies that combine world-class accuracy, portability, and reliability, reinforcing both its leadership in quantum innovation and its contribution to strengthening national security capabilities.
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