QuSecure’s quantum-resistant PQC solution passes critical Army test

QuSecure’s QuProtect R3 achieved Technical Readiness Level 7 at Project Convergence Capstone 6, signifying it is advanced enough to be fielded with the Department of Defense, the company says. The demonstration involved thousands of soldiers conducting maneuvers and testing future warfighting concepts at Fort Irwin’s National Training Center, providing a real-world environment for the post-quantum cryptography solution. “Participation in PCC6 caps off almost two years of close, iterative development work,” said Joey Lupo, Product Manager at QuSecure. “This event also marks a critical milestone for the Army.” This achievement addresses requirements stemming from Executive Order 14412, which mandates federal agencies migrate to post-quantum cryptography by 2030-2031.

QuProtect R3 Achieves Technical Readiness Level 7 at Project Convergence Capstone 6

The demonstration occurred within a large-scale military exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, involving thousands of soldiers testing future warfighting concepts and providing a realistic environment for evaluating the technology’s performance. This advancement positions QuSecure as a potential leader in securing military communications against future quantum computing threats, a concern rapidly gaining prominence within federal agencies. The successful operation of QuProtect R3 during the exercise elevated it to TRL-7, the highest score in the category as defined by the Post-Quantum Cryptography Coalition’s recent Solution Analysis Guide. This achievement signifies a maturation of the technology from its origins as a Small Business Innovation Research program, supported by work with Army C5ISR, to a platform ready for wider adoption. Beyond resisting quantum attacks, QuProtect R3 also demonstrated improvements in network automation, cryptographic agility, and zero trust capabilities during the exercise, enhancing resilience against a broader range of cyber adversaries, according to QuSecure. Brian Cunningham, EVP of Growth and Strategy at QuSecure, emphasized the urgency driving this development, stating, “Executive Order 14412 and the Department of Defense’s PQC Strategy have set binding deadlines every federal agency now has to meet.” He further explained that attaining TRL-7 at PCC6 means the Army possesses a deployable platform years ahead of the 2030-2031 compliance window mandated by the Executive Order, offering a model for other federal agencies to follow. “TRL-7 at PCC6 means the Army is not waiting; every other Department of Defense component and federal agency has a ready reference deployment to follow.”

Participation in PCC6 caps off almost two years of close, iterative development work with C5ISR to adapt the product and add new capabilities for tactical networks. Joey Lupo, Product Manager at QuSecure