QuSecure tested its post-quantum cryptography platform QuProtect R3 on U.S. Army tactical systems during Project Convergence exercises.
Following field tests, the solution achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7.
Protection Against Future Quantum Attacks
QuProtect R3 was used for quantum-attack-resistant communications in tactical networks, as well as for cryptography management and algorithm detection. According to QuSecure, the tests involved military personnel in conditions close to real-world operations.
Project Convergence Capstone 6 is an annual Army exercise held at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin. Thousands of military personnel participate, and the program is designed to test new technologies and combat concepts.
From SBIR to Field Application
Achieving TRL 7 indicates a prototype or system demonstration in near-real conditions. QuSecure has been refining QuProtect for nearly two years under the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, in collaboration with the Army’s C5ISR division, adapting the platform for tactical networks.
However, full-scale deployment of QuProtect in the U.S. Army is not yet planned. The company views the test results as confirmation of the solution’s readiness for further deployment.
Army Prepares for the Quantum Computing Era
The shift to post-quantum cryptography is driven by the risk of sufficiently powerful quantum computers that could break today’s cryptographic algorithms. A specific concern is the “harvest now, decrypt later” scenario, where encrypted data is intercepted now to be decrypted in the future.
U.S. federal agencies are required to complete the transition to post-quantum cryptography by 2030–2031. The company also highlights a target of 2029 for the potential arrival of Q-day, when a quantum computer could pose a practical threat to modern cryptography.
Previously, companies Sparkle and Hellas Sat deployed the first quantum-resistant satellite connection between Greece and Cyprus.
