DARPA has launched the 'It's About Time' program to build a pilot manufacturing pipeline for tactical-grade optical clocks — ultra-precise timekeeping devices that use light frequencies rather than microwaves. The initiative, building on the earlier ROCkN and OASIC programs, addresses the longstanding gap between laboratory quantum demonstrations and scalable field deployment. IonQ, via its Vector Atomic subsidiary, has been awarded the contract to establish the manufacturing facility, expected to open by mid-2027. DARPA sees optical clocks as a proving ground for broader quantum manufacturing techniques, with potential extensions to RF sensors and infrared imaging. The program also has strategic defense implications, as GPS-independent precision timing could support military operations in contested environments.
