Canada’s National Quantum Strategy considers quantum sensing one of three primary goals. Quantum sensing – the monitoring and detection of activity by a quantum sensor that collects atomic data for superior precision and sensitivity – is gaining attention for its potential military applications. As geopolitical tensions rise in the Arctic and domain awareness remains a pressing challenge to Arctic security, NATO states with Arctic presence (Canada, the United States, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland) may seek to accelerate quantum sensor development.
Strengthening Arctic security has increased in relevance since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine intensified competition between the Western NATO bloc and a combative. The Arctic is of strategically territorial significance as climate change melts ice, opening new shipping routes and uncovering potential mining sites. President Trump’s pursuit of Greenland has prompted NATO to reflect on the danger and extent of Arctic vulnerability.
Undersea cables located throughout the Arctic crucially enable military sites, communities, and researchers to access internet and communicate. The cables’ highlight risks of Arctic vulnerability to security as adversariesmay attempt to intercept, alter, or block information or connections relayed through them. Such would jeopardize navigation, coordinated defense initiatives, missile defense, emergency services, scientific research, and data.
Addressing Arctic vulnerability to protect cyberinfrastructure requires enhancing domain awareness. Domain awareness is the understanding of activity within a region, including the detection and assessment of potentialthreats, gained by monitoring territory. Domain awareness directly supports maritime and military intelligence by informing planners and decision-makers of risks. Arctic domain awareness functionally supportscybersecurity by enabling the protection of cyberinfrastructure, namely undersea cables. Protecting these cables enhances cybersecurity by preventing intelligence breaches in the form of attacks on cyberinfrastructure aiming to alter, block, or intercept sensitive information and communications relevant to network and intelligence security. Domain awareness’ protection of cables contributes to maritime and military security by maintaining lines of communication. These lines enable coordinated responses to attacks and protect the integrity of intelligence.
Quantum sensors improve domain awareness by detecting changes in motion and electromagnetic fields with superior accuracy, employing quantum principles (e.g., superposition and entanglement) to collect data at the atomic level, making them extremely sensitive. Quantum sensors also circumvent – at least partially — challenges faced by conventional sensors including interference and jamming. Interference is background noise that lowers the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), making it difficult for sensors to maintain signals. Quantum sensors can operate at lower SNR since they utilize quantum principles like entanglement and squeezing, which control and minimise background noise. Beyond low SNR operability, most quantum sensors are passive sensors, meaning they don’t emit signals that can be detected or targeted, making them difficult to jam or block.
From 2018-2025 there were 17 reports of disruptions to underseas cables. If quantum sensors could detect sources of disruption as they approach, they would offer preventative security benefits. Earlier and quickerdetection would enable quicker responses to damages and promote security by limiting the likelihood or severity of internet and communications blackouts that would undermine defensive coordination or the relay of information.
Further, a cable that disappeared in 2021 from a Norwegian seabed is suspected to have been stolen, but perpetrators were never identified. Failure to identify attackers’ signals weakness and lack of consequences, which encourages future attacks. Quantum sensors could assist in narrowing down possible sources of the attack. Different submarines emit different electromagnetic signals based on their class, size, etc. Intelligence agencies have used these signals to identify vehicles, but could now do so with greater precision, potentially in lower SNR environments. Quantum sensors then enhance states’ abilities to attribute attacks which detersfuture attacks by increasing the risk of their detection and identification. Detecting and attributing attacks also allows states to issue repercussions and provides insight on enemies’ strategies and goals.
Their enhancement of domain awareness through the detection, deterrence, and attribution of threats and attacks on classical and cyber assets offers contributions to cyber and conventional security. Arctic NATO statess should invest in sensor development projects with the nearest-term predicted deliverables rather than experimental initiatives. The specialised nature of hardware and labour required for quantum sensor development heightens the importance of intentional investment. Next, they should coordinate interoperability with clear regulations and responsibilities early in deployment to optimize accountability and collective awareness and action. It may be difficult to orchestrate absolute coordination, though, since states may wish to maintain a degree of exclusive intelligence to protect independent interests, including those which may arise due to shifting Arctic borders and emerging territorial tensions.
NATO currently lacks formally coordinated plans to integrate quantum sensors to service intelligence gathering and awareness building in the Arctic. It’s crucial that allies coordinate sensor deployment and development to avoid fragmentation and inefficiency. Coordination prevents duplicative R&D and monitoring, which enables quicker development and greater ranges of awareness at a reduced cost. Deterrence and prevention benefits gained from enhanced detection capabilities are thus most easily reaped through coordinated initiatives that allow for greater, collective awareness ranges.
However, quantum sensors are technologically immature and require costly developments. These developments include miniaturization and ruggedization to enable the sensors’ deployment to small spaces and harsh climates. Environmental conditions, including ice and snow, are of particular importance because the sensors’ heightened sensitivity means – while it may be operable at low SNR eventually – it is vulnerable to interference without rigorous R&D and management.
While there is a long way to go in their development, some speculate key enhancements for defense and security will be achieved over the next five years. Quantum sensor’s enhancement of domain awareness bolsters cybers and physical security by protecting cyberinfrastructure. Such maintains the integrity of information and enables communications while supporting the detection, deterrence, and attribution of threats to cyber and general assets. Further, though, quantum sensors’ promotion of domain awareness supports search and rescue missions and environmental research on Arctic ecosystems, wildlife, and climate change. The detection and prevention of damage to undersea cables that enable internet access and communications necessary for emergency and medical services would also support communal security.
Disclaimer: Any views or opinions expressed in articles are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the NATO Association of Canada.
Photo Credit: NATO
