Finland to lead EU’s quantum leap in defense

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Friday, May 30th, 2025

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rki.news
HELSINKI- Finland will spearhead a groundbreaking European Union initiative to apply quantum technologies in defense, the Finnish Ministry of Defense announced on Friday.
The project, named QUEST (Quantum Enablers for Strategic Advantage), aims to boost Europe’s defense capabilities through cutting-edge quantum innovations. Key applications include advanced positioning, territorial surveillance, and air and missile defense.
“Finland has world-class expertise in quantum technology and a highly advanced ecosystem,” said Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen. “We’re fully committed to embedding quantum advancements into our defense strategy.”
The initiative seeks to develop high-precision Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems that operate independently of existing Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). This independence is vital for strategic resilience in future conflicts.
QUEST will be carried out jointly by Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre and the Finnish defense administration, in collaboration with multiple EU nations. It forms part of the sixth wave of defense projects under the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), which aims to bolster defense cooperation, resource sharing, and technological development across member states.
This wave, approved by the European Council on May 27, includes 11 new projects proposed by Germany, France, Finland, and Italy. With these additions, the total number of PESCO projects has risen to 75.
By leading QUEST, Finland positions itself at the forefront of Europe’s quantum defense revolution.