Ironstone Opal by Q-CTRL: status and timeline

Ironstone Opal

Navigate without GPS by sensing tiny variations in Earth's gravity and magnetic field. Ships and aircraft could then stay on course even when satellite signals are jammed or spoofed.

DeployStage 4 of 5

DO-160 qualified (Jul 2026); maritime 1-nm accuracy (Aug 2026); TIME Best Invention 2025.

Updated Aug 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · FAA/defense airworthiness certification

First quantum navigation field trial2024Complete.
Demonstrates quantum advantage in airborne and ground trialsApr 2025Complete.
Ironstone Opal wins TIME Best Invention awardOct 2025Complete.
Singapore Airshow demonstration and commercial releaseFeb 2026Complete.
Pass DO-160 environmental qualification testingJul 2026Complete.
Demonstrates GPS-free maritime gravimetric navigationAug 2026Complete.
FAA/defense airworthiness certificationTarget 2027Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

2027FAA/defense airworthiness certification (next)
2027First operational deployment

Current obstacles

Quantum sensor stabilityAtomic sensors are sensitive to vibration and temperature; flight requires active stabilization and calibration.
Military airworthiness certificationDefense and FAA certification timelines depend on government evaluation schedules and regulatory approval processes.

Physics limits

Quantum sensor sensitivity to vibrationQuantum gravimeters achieve high precision only in stable environments; aircraft vibration can introduce noise, though Q-CTRL's control methods can suppress this.
Gravitational field resolutionPositioning accuracy ultimately limited by the spatial resolution of Earth's gravitational anomalies, which is typically tens to hundreds of meters.

How it works

3 parts

Sensors

Quantum sensors measure Earth's fields

Quantum gravimeters measure gravitational variations, optionally with magnetometers, as absolute navigation reference.

Processing

Quantum control filters noise

Q-CTRL's methods filter environmental noise and cross-reference data with geophysical models for position.

Real-time updates

Independent from satellites

Ironstone Opal provides continuous position updates without relying on satellite signals, radio beacons or external infrastructure.

Spec sheet

Spec	Ironstone Opal
Position accuracy in maritime trial	1 nautical mile^R (reported)
vs conventional backup	10x+^R (reported)
vs GPS (airborne)	100x^R (reported)
Longest successful airborne flight	700 km^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Papers & demos

2 items

Jul 2026paper
Ironstone Opal passes DO-160 environmental qualification testing (opens xenospectrum.com)First quantum navigation system to achieve airworthiness qualification for flight safety standards.
Feb 2026demo
Ironstone Opal demonstrated at Singapore Airshow (opens q-ctrl.com)World's first commercially available quantum navigation system, validated for air, land and maritime use.

Update log

5 updates

About Q-CTRL

The team behind Ironstone Opal

Q-CTRL

Quantum control software, error correction, quantum navigation

Q-CTRL provides quantum control software to stabilize quantum computers and enable quantum sensing for GPS-free navigation. Founded 2017 by physicist Michael Biercuk.

Sydney-based with offices in LA, Berlin, Oxford. Raised $128M total across Series A-B-2 (2019–2024).
Ironstone Opal won TIME Best Invention 2025; passed DO-160 testing (Jul 2026); maritime navigation.
Also builds Fire Opal (error suppression), Boulder Opal (hardware design), and Black Opal (learning).

q-ctrl.com (opens q-ctrl.com)Company profile →

Founded: 20179 yrs
Headquarters: Australia
Status: Private
Valuation: $1.5Best. privateJan 2025estimate
Raised: $99M3 rounds
Last round: Series B-2 Expansion · $59MOct 2024
Works in: QuantumQuantum networks & sensing
Coverage: 1 program · 6 updateslatest 1 Aug 2026checked 11 Oct
Lead investors: GP BullhoundLockheed Martin VenturesNTT FinanceAirbus VenturesSquare Peg Capital
Partners: IBM (opens ibm.com)IonQ (opens ionq.com)Google Quantum AI (opens google.com)
Investors: Lockheed Martin Ventures (opens lockheedmartin.com)
People: Michael J. Biercuk (opens sydney.edu.au)Founder and CEO

Spec

Ironstone Opal

Position accuracy in maritime trial

1 nautical mile^R (reported)

vs conventional backup

10x+^R (reported)

vs GPS (airborne)

100x^R (reported)

Longest successful airborne flight

700 km^R (reported)

Ironstone Opal

Milestones

Most important updates

Upcoming

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Quantum sensors measure Earth's fields

Quantum control filters noise

Independent from satellites

Spec sheet

Papers & demos

Update log

Aug 2026

Jul 2026

Feb 2026

Oct 2025

Apr 2025

About Q-CTRL

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

Quantum sensors measure Earth's fields

Quantum control filters noise

Independent from satellites

Spec sheet

Papers & demos

Update log

Aug 2026

Jul 2026

Feb 2026

Oct 2025

Apr 2025

About Q-CTRL