Huge discovery: DRDO-IIT Delhi milestone reshapes future warfare and guarantees India’s leadership in quantum technology
India pioneers quantum-secure free-space communication with DRDO-IIT Delhi breakthrough, marking a leap in defence, cybersecurity, and future warfare capabilities. With the successful demonstration of quantum entanglement-based free-space secure communication, carried out in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and IIT Delhi, India has made a significant step toward the quantum era. Secure quantum communication across a distance of more than one kilometre was accomplished in the experiment, which was conducted at the DRDO-Industry-Academia Centre of Excellence (DIA-CoE) on the campus of IIT Delhi. With the use of a free-space optical link, the milestone achieved a safe key rate of around 240 bits per second and a quantum bit error rate of less than 7%. This lays the groundwork for long-distance Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), real-time applications in quantum cybersecurity, and the larger goal of creating quantum networks and a future quantum internet. The Directorate of Futuristic Technology Management (DFTM), DRDO, has approved the project named “Design and development of photonic technologies for free space QKD.” DRDO’s DG (MED, COS & CS), Director SAG, Director DFTM, and top academics from IIT Delhi were among the senior authorities who attended the demonstration, which was headed by Prof. Bhaskar Kanseri’s research group. Higher security is guaranteed by quantum entanglement-based communication, in contrast to conventional prepare-and-measure QKD systems, even if the hardware is compromised. The entangled quantum state is changed by every attempt at eavesdropping, making it observable. Additionally, it avoids the need to install expensive and disruptive optical fibre networks, which is especially advantageous in urban or remote locations. This accomplishment builds on earlier successes, such as the 2022 establishment of India’s first intercity quantum communication link between Vindhyachal and Prayagraj and the 2024 demonstration of a 100-km fibre-based quantum key distribution system. DRDO’s DIA-CoEs, which currently encompass 15 prestigious academic institutions nationwide, serve as the foundation for all initiatives. “India has entered into a new quantum era of secure communication, which will be a game changer in future warfare,” said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, congratulating the team. Both IIT Delhi Director Prof. Rangan Banerjee and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir V. Kamat reiterated the view, praising the discovery as a crucial step towards technical sovereignty and national security.