Xairos Systems, Inc. has secured a $1.9 million Direct-to-Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from SpaceWERX to develop a revolutionary fusion positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) system. The project, which recently completed its Preliminary Design Review, combines quantum and optical synchronization technologies to address critical timing challenges for the Department of the Air Force (DAF).
Strategic Partnership and Technical Innovation
The development effort brings together Xairos Systems with Luminous Cyber Corporation and Eritek Inc. in a collaborative venture to create a field-deployable terminal. The system integrates Quantum Time Transfer (QTT) technology with Luminous Cyber's clock ensemble and Eritek's compact optical communications terminal, offering a robust solution for GPS-denied environments.
"Xairos is thrilled to have this opportunity to address a critical need for secure PNT and communications in a GPS-denied environment for the Alt-PNT Challenge," said David Mitlyng, Xairos CEO. "This program gives us an opportunity to integrate Quantum Time Transfer with Luminous Cyber's novel clock ensemble and Eritek's compact optical communications terminal to demonstrate a field deployable terminal that is a major step towards the commercialization of a resilient and accurate global timing network."
Technical Capabilities and Market Impact
The innovative system promises sub-nanosecond-level accuracy, representing a thousand-fold improvement over existing solutions. This breakthrough technology has significant implications for various critical infrastructure sectors, including:
- Transportation systems
- Network operations
- Financial transaction processing
- Data center synchronization
- Power grid management
Defense Innovation Pipeline
This contract is part of the DAF's Open Topic SBIR/STTR program, initiated in 2018 to expand innovation funding opportunities. The streamlined process, managed through SpaceWERX and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), aims to accelerate technology development by reducing bureaucratic overhead and shortening proposal-to-award timelines.
SpaceWERX, operating with a $457 million annual budget and headquartered in Los Angeles, has demonstrated significant impact in defense innovation. Since its alignment under AFRL in August 2021, the organization has executed 1,106 contracts valued at over $897 million, strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base and accelerating technology transition to operational capability.
