Colorado-based Xairos Systems has completed two-kilometer free-space range testing with its Ares Quantum Optical Terminal, establishing simultaneous quantum and optical links from a single integrated unit.
The milestone is notable for being free-space rather than fiber-based, a distinction the company says is a critical step toward operational deployment in environments where physical infrastructure is unavailable.
The fully integrated Ares terminal is designed to combine 10 Gbps free-space optical communications, entangled photon distribution for timing and encryption key sharing, and a stable clock ensemble disciplined by Xairos’ Quantum Time Transfer technology. The system targets RF- and GPS-denied environments, and the company has cited precision synchronization for distributed sensors and antennas — including applications relevant to Golden Dome-style architectures requiring geolocation and data fusion for fire control — as representative use cases.
The announcement follows Xairos’ completion last week of Phase 1 of the UK’s £1.4 million Innovate UK Quantum PNT Mission under the TimeLink programme, which advanced the company’s Athena product line for GNSS-independent timing in critical infrastructure. The company is also the technology provider for the Colorado Quantum Incubator’s planned national quantum timing testbed, announced in April. Next steps for the Ares terminal include further development under the Colorado Quantum Incubator’s Quantum Timing Center program.
