Quantum navigation and AI identity systems are redefining military resilience

The article discusses how modern military resilience is increasingly defined by advances in quantum navigation and AI-driven identity systems, reflecting a shift from traditional physical battlefields to digital and data-centric domains. The US Department of Defense has invested heavily—awarding multiyear contracts worth up to $200 million each—to major AI companies to gain operational advantages through agentic AI workflows that accelerate decision-making, automate routine tasks, and reduce the time between detection and action. Retired military expert William Young emphasizes that control over data movement, particularly over the electromagnetic spectrum, is now as strategically critical as naval dominance was in previous centuries, linking military and commercial power. A key vulnerability addressed is the military’s reliance on satellite navigation, which has been increasingly targeted by spoofing attacks disrupting operations in critical waterways. Quantum sensors, which detect subtle variations in Earth’s gravity or magnetic fields, are emerging as a satellite-independent solution for positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT). Australian company Q-CTRL demonstrated a ruggedized quantum sensor system