A Royal Norwegian Air Force P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft cruises at low altitude above Arctic ice, equipped with an underwing pod housing next-generation quantum gravimetry sensors for sub-ice mass anomaly detection and submarine tracking.
Close-up view of the gyro-stabilized quantum gravimeter core, showing the cold atom sensor head and laser-control architecture engineered for high-precision gravity measurements from airborne platforms in polar conditions.
Keynote Speaker
Quantum Leaps in Sensing & Navigation
— Dr. Helena Bergström (Senior Fellow, Stockholm Institute for Quantum Security Studies)- Quantum magnetometers and gravimeters have fundamentally altered submarine detection in the Arctic, extending detection ranges from under a mile to nearly four miles and creating detection capabilities that work through ice cover where traditional acoustic methods fail.
-
Quantum Inertial Navigation Systems have effectively neutralized GPS denial as a strategic tool, allowing submarines and aircraft to maintain precise position awareness for weeks without external reference—a critical capability in the contested Arctic environment.
- While quantum technologies have not rendered submarines completely vulnerable, they have decisively tilted the playing field, forcing significant changes in operational patterns and driving the development of quantum-hardened platforms specifically designed to minimize gravitational and magnetic signatures.
Glimpse into the Keynote
Dr. Helena Bergström is recognized for coordinating the multinational scientific effort that transformed quantum physics from laboratory curiosity to operational capability, fundamentally altering the balance of power in the Arctic. As scientific director of the Nordic Quantum Arctic Initiative from 2032-2040, she orchestrated research teams across allied nations, leveraging AI-assisted design platforms to achieve in years what might have taken decades through traditional methods.
At ARCTECH45, Dr. Bergström will deliver a definitive assessment of quantum technologies' maturation and strategic implications for Arctic operations. Her address will provide a clear-eyed evaluation that cuts through both hype and skepticism to present the ground truth of quantum systems in 2045. Her keynote will detail:
Revolutionizing Arctic Anti-Submarine Warfare
Dr. Bergström will explain how quantum magnetometers and gravimeters have transformed submarine detection in the ice-covered Arctic. These systems exploit quantum properties to detect vessels at ranges previously considered impossible—extending detection distances from less than a mile to 3-4 miles under optimal conditions.
SQUID magnetometers can detect infinitesimal changes in magnetic fields created by a submarine's hull or electrical systems, while ultra-cold atom sensors offer similar capabilities in more deployable packages. Most significantly, quantum gravimeters measure the tiny gravitational disturbances created by a submarine's mass*—a signature that, unlike magnetic fields, cannot be shielded.
"What makes these systems transformative," Dr. Bergström notes, "is their ability to discriminate between natural anomalies and artificial ones in the magnetically complex Arctic environment. They don't just detect more; they understand what they're detecting."
She will present data from the 2041 Barents Sea exercise, where networked quantum sensors successfully tracked a silent-running submarine throughout its patrol—an achievement impossible with pre-quantum technologies.
Dr. Bergström will also address quantum radar systems, which use entangled photons to filter out environmental noise and overcome stealth technologies. This capability is particularly valuable in the Arctic, where aurora-related interference degrades conventional radar performance.
Navigational Certainty When GPS Falls Silent
The Arctic poses unique navigational challenges: GPS signals are weaker at high latitudes, the magnetic north pole's movement renders compasses unreliable, and jamming or spoofing would likely be widespread in conflict.
Quantum Inertial Navigation Systems (QINS) provide a solution that requires no external signals. These systems use atom interferometry to measure acceleration and rotation with extraordinary precision, reducing navigational drift by orders of magnitude compared to conventional systems.
"A traditional inertial navigation system might drift by a kilometer per hour," Dr. Bergström will explain. "Advanced quantum systems maintain accuracy within meters over weeks of operation, without any external reference." It has to be noted, however, that this performance requires periodic recalibration and optimal operating conditions.
The strategic implications are profound. Submarines equipped with quantum navigation can remain submerged for entire patrols, never surfacing for vulnerable GPS fixes. Aircraft and hypersonic weapons can maintain precise course regardless of GPS availability, neutralizing jamming as a strategic tool.
Making Quantum Work in the Real World
Despite their revolutionary potential, quantum technologies present significant engineering challenges. Dr. Bergström will address how international research consortia have overcome these hurdles.
"The paradox of quantum sensors is that they achieve their sensitivity precisely because they're exquisitely responsive to their environment," she notes. "But this also makes them vulnerable to vibration, electromagnetic interference, and temperature fluctuations—all abundant in operational settings."
Key innovations include advanced magnetic shielding materials, vibration isolation systems inspired by gravitational wave detectors, and AI-driven noise cancellation algorithms that extract meaningful signals from noisy environments (although extreme Arctic weather can still overwhelm sometimes even the most sophisticated filtering systems).
Dr. Bergström will conclude by assessing how quantum technologies have shifted the strategic balance without rendering any domain completely transparent.
Submarine operations have been most affected. Transit routes have shifted to avoid instrumented chokepoints. Patrol depths and speeds have been modified to minimize detectable signatures. New classes of quantum-hardened submarines incorporate design features specifically aimed at minimizing gravitational and magnetic signatures.
"The quantum revolution in Arctic security is not a single event but an ongoing process," she will conclude. "What began in physics laboratories across multiple nations has transformed the strategic landscape of the High North. Understanding both the capabilities and limitations of these systems is essential for navigating the Arctic security environment of 2045."
*Though detection accuracy varies significantly with sea state and requires careful calibration to filter out natural gravitational anomalies.
By Dr. Bergström & Sascha Kenova
Sascha travelled to meet Helena for this introductory piece [November 12 2044]
Sascha travelled to meet Helena for this introductory piece [November 12 2044]