India’s quantum technology efforts aim to place it as a global leader in the emerging field
Keeping a watchful eye on China, India is investing in quantum technology to gain computing and information edge.
Last month, Indian scientists from Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi successfully demonstrated the quantum key distribution (QKD) link for over 100 km between Prayagraj and Vindhyachal in Uttar Pradesh.
This was achieved using existing commercial-grade fiber-optic networks. The objective of the network demonstration is to show the feasibility of building a secure network for Indian security agencies using indigenous technology.
QKD is a method of communication that allows two parties to create a shared random "key" that is known only to them. This key can be used to encrypt and decrypt messages.
Its strength is that any disturbance breaks the quantum characteristics of this communication method, meaning that if a spy or hacker tries to prevent key generation, they will introduce errors and reveal themselves.
QKD is made possible by quantum computing technology. Whereas both conventional and quantum computers use both 1s and 0s to process data, quantum computers use 'qubits', which have a third state called 'superposition', which allows them to have 1s and 0s at the same time. Allows to represent 0s.
Instead of analyzing 1s and 0s sequentially as is the case with conventional computers, superposition allows two qubits in superposition to represent four scenarios at the same time. This significantly reduces processing times for large data sets, making quantum computers far faster and more powerful than conventional computers.
As such, quantum computers can crack current-day encryption that would be too complex or time-consuming for conventional computers. Classified military information can now be easily decrypted, which could pose a national security risk in a more traditional way.
In addition to decrypting classified information, quantum technology has also been used in cyber security, AI, communications, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance, chemical and biological warfare simulation and detection, electronic warfare, underwater warfare, space warfare, new Military capabilities such as materials are expected to revolutionize. Design and human-machine interface.
That said, India has made several remarkable strides in a relatively short period of time to boost its quantum technology prowess.
Earlier, in December 2021, the Indian Army had set up a quantum computing laboratory and an AI center at a military engineering institute in Madhya Pradesh. The project was supported by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) of India.
Also, India's Telematics Development Center (C-DOT) launched a quantum communication laboratory in October 2021 after unveiling the QKD solution. It can support over 100 kilometers on standard optical fiber.
In August 2021, India launched the Quantum Computer Simulator (QSim) toolkit to provide the first quantum development environment to academia, industry professionals, students and the scientific community in India.
QSim allows researchers and students to write and debug the quantum code needed for quantum algorithms. Quantum systems are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances, so much so that the necessary controls and observations impede them.
In July 2021, India's Defense Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT) and Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) agreed to collaborate and develop quantum computers.
In addition, in March 2021, 13 research groups from India's Department of Science and Technology and Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) – Pune joined the I-HUB Quantum Technology Foundation (I-HUB QTF) for further development. launched. quantum technology.
In addition, in January 2021, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) established a Quantum Computing Applications Lab in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to facilitate quantum computing-led research and development.
These projects are the result of India's USD 1.2 billion investment in quantum technology development as part of its National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications (NM-QTA), which was launched in 2020.
The objective of the program is to develop quantum technologies in pursuit of India's national interest, to train a stable pool of Indian quantum technology experts, to apply quantum technologies in engineering, scientific, defence, industrial, health and agricultural purposes and as a driver. as to harness the potential of quantum technology. of economic development.
The driving force for these efforts may be China's own quantum technology advancements. China's 14th Five-Year Plan emphasizes quantum technology among other areas, and it intends to establish a satellite-enabled, global "quantum-encrypted communications capability" by 2030.
In 2016, China launched the world's first quantum satellite, a 2,000-km quantum communication line between Beijing and Shanghai and built the world's first optical quantum computing machine prototype.
China's quantum technology research could be merged with its civilian infrastructure as part of its military-civilian fusion strategy, adding a dual-use ambiguity to China's efforts in this area.
Like India, China's advances in quantum technology have military applications, such as detecting submarines, stealth aircraft and cracking encrypted information.