Pentagon Directs $350 Million Toward Quantum Computing

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of War is directing approximately $350 million toward quantum computing development, including $200 million to validate prospective commercial systems and a $150 million conditional loan commitment to PsiQuantum, as the federal government seeks to establish a domestic industrial base for technology with potential military applications.

The funding combines investments through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the department’s Office of Strategic Capital, linking technical evaluations of quantum computers with financing for U.S. manufacturing and prototyping capacity.

DARPA is advancing four prospective quantum computing providers to Stage C of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, committing approximately $200 million in new funding.

The investment builds on more than $650 million DARPA has already directed toward prospective quantum computing providers.

During Stage C, participants will work with DARPA to verify whether their proposed utility-scale quantum computers can be built according to their designs and operate as intended.

The companies advancing to this stage have demonstrated research and development plans for constructing utility-scale systems, identified significant technical risks and established prototype requirements intended to address those risks, according to the department.