DARPA Advances IBM and IonQ to Quantum Testing Phase
DARPA selected IBM and IonQ for Stage C of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to begin active testing of fault-tolerant quantum hardware.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has advanced IBM and IonQ Inc. to Stage C, the third phase of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). This transition shifts the program from conceptual research and development plans to the active testing and measurement of quantum hardware and architectures by independent experts.
Launched in 2024, the QBI seeks to determine if an industrially useful fault-tolerant quantum computer can be constructed by 2033. To reach this stage, both companies completed a technical concept definition in Stage A and a comprehensive R&D and risk mitigation plan in Stage B. IBM intends to deliver its first fault-tolerant system, IBM Quantum Starling, in 2029.
IonQ secured an agreement with a potential value of up to $300 million as part of its advancement. Through 2029, DARPA will conduct independent verification and validation of multiple generations of IonQ's Superion quantum systems to test hardware and software against the company's technical roadmap. IonQ plans to scale the manufacturing and deployment of these systems for security, scientific, and commercial applications.
