India tests quantum communication system for defence

A computer-generated image shows Taqbit's QKD transceiver systems. (Taqbit Labs)

India's state-owned Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in collaboration with Bangalore-based technology firm Taqbit Labs, has tested a quantum key distribution (QKD) system intended for deployment in military communications networks.

The DRDO announced on social media platform X on 14 July that it had completed military field trials of a scalable, secure fibre-based QKD system. The trial is intended to support the development of a “large-scale, multi-hop quantum network” for secure communications, the DRDO said.

Taqbit Labs CEO Animesh Aaryan told Janes on 16 July that the company has been working with DRDO since 2020 to advance QKD systems for the Indian Armed Forces. The partnership is focused on integrating the systems into existing military networks and establishing a new secure, self-contained tactical network.

“It's important to mention that customised QKDs have been developed by the DRDO in partnership with Taqbit for both brownfield as well as greenfield deployments,” he said.

Aaryan added that Taqbit has a portfolio of military-grade encryption and secure communications systems, including QKD, quantum random number generators (QRNGs), and post-quantum cryptography (PQC), that use quantum physics principles to provide long-term data integrity and confidentiality.

“[These systems] are designed for seamless integration with existing communication infrastructure, allowing defence establishments to transition to a ‘quantum-safe' posture without compromising performance,” he said.

According to Taqbit, its QKD portfolio comprises two complementary protocols: Coherent-One-Way (COW) QKD and Differential Phase Shift (DPS) QKD, each optimised for different operational requirements.

COW QKD uses weak coherent pulses with time-bin encoding and a dedicated monitoring line to detect eavesdropping. It has a key rate of 1 kbps at 22 dB signal loss and a maximum range of more than 100 km.