Indra Group Advances Quantum Defence Technologies Through European ADEQUADE Project to Strengthen Operational Resilience and Strategic Autonomy

Indra Group Advances Quantum Defence Technologies Through European ADEQUADE Project to Strengthen Operational Resilience and Strategic Autonomy

(IN BRIEF) Indra Group has strengthened its position in quantum technologies for defence through participation in the European ADEQUADE project, a European Defence Fund-backed initiative involving 31 partners from eight countries and coordinated by Thales. Concluded in June 2026, the project advanced technologies for resilient navigation without GNSS, enhanced electromagnetic signal detection and next-generation optronic systems, with potential future integration into land, naval, air and space platforms. Indra led the definition of operational scenarios and mission requirements and helped develop the technology roadmap for moving quantum capabilities from laboratory research toward deployable operational systems. The company is combining these emerging technologies with existing expertise in sensors, electronic defence, mission systems and C4ISR architectures. José Pérez, Head of Indra Group’s Quantum Technology R+T Laboratory, said the results are aligned with the needs of future European and national defence programmes and could support later development, demonstration and procurement phases. ADEQUADE also has dual-use potential in civil aviation, maritime and land transport, radio-frequency communications, Earth observation, climate monitoring and environmental surveillance.

(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 14-Sep-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Indra Group is strengthening its position in quantum technologies for defence following its participation in the European ADEQUADE — Advanced, Disruptive and Emerging QUAntum technologies for DEfense — project, which has developed technologies designed to enhance the operational capabilities, resilience and technological autonomy of European armed forces.

Launched in 2022, ADEQUADE brought together 31 partners from eight European countries in a consortium coordinated by Thales and involving major European defence companies including Indra Group, Leonardo and Diehl Defence.

The project concluded in June 2026 after advancing the definition and development of quantum technologies with potential applications in future defence systems. These include resilient navigation without reliance on Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), advanced detection of electromagnetic signals and next-generation optronic systems.

Funded by the European Commission through the European Defence Fund (EDF), the R&D&I initiative has focused on technologies that could eventually be integrated into land, naval, air and space platforms, strengthening defence capabilities while also creating potential applications for civilian transportation, communications, Earth observation and environmental monitoring.

ADEQUADE has assessed which quantum technologies have the greatest potential to improve the operational superiority and resilience of European armed forces as they face increasingly sophisticated threats. The consortium has also worked to establish a stronger European industrial and technological base for the development and supply of critical quantum components and subsystems.

Indra Group played a central role by leading the definition of operational scenarios and mission requirements used to identify priority applications for quantum technologies.

The company also led work on a technology roadmap intended to guide the transition of quantum capabilities from laboratory research into systems that can ultimately be demonstrated, integrated and deployed in operational environments.

Through this work, Indra has strengthened its capabilities as a systems integrator and technology partner for defence applications involving quantum technologies. The company is combining its existing expertise in advanced sensors, electronic defence, mission systems and C4ISR architectures — Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance — with emerging quantum capabilities.

José Pérez, Head of Indra Group’s Quantum Technology Research and Technology (R+T) Laboratory, said the results of ADEQUADE are closely aligned with requirements expected to emerge from future European and national defence programmes.

He said the project could provide a foundation for subsequent development, demonstration and procurement phases and position Indra to integrate quantum technologies into practical operational systems.

According to Pérez, the ability to move quantum technology beyond laboratory environments and incorporate it into real defence architectures will be important for strengthening European strategic autonomy and maintaining technological advantages in increasingly complex operating environments.

One of the principal areas examined by ADEQUADE is navigation in environments where satellite-based positioning systems may be unavailable, disrupted or deliberately denied. Quantum sensing technologies could potentially support alternative navigation approaches for defence platforms operating without dependable GNSS signals.

The project has also investigated quantum technologies for enhanced detection and analysis within the electromagnetic spectrum, where armed forces increasingly need to identify, interpret and respond to complex signals.

Another focus has been next-generation optronic systems, where advances in quantum sensing could potentially improve detection and observation capabilities across different military domains.

Indra Group said these technologies could eventually be incorporated across land vehicles, ships, aircraft and space-based platforms, depending on the maturity achieved through future development and validation programmes.

ADEQUADE also has a significant dual-use dimension. Technologies originally developed for demanding defence environments could support civilian applications where higher levels of precision, resilience or sensing performance are required.

Potential civilian applications include enhanced navigation systems for civil aviation, maritime transport and land vehicles, as well as improvements in radio-frequency communications.

Quantum-enabled sensing could also support more precise Earth observation, climate monitoring and environmental surveillance, extending the potential benefits of the research beyond defence.

The conclusion of ADEQUADE opens the way for further industrial collaboration, operational demonstrations and potential procurement programmes as individual technologies progress toward higher levels of maturity.

Indra sees the project as part of its broader strategy to build capabilities across quantum sensing, communications, key management and computing.

The company is working with universities, technology centres, specialist companies and start-ups across Spain and the wider European ecosystem to develop expertise and create an industrial base capable of supporting future quantum technologies.

By combining established defence-system integration capabilities with emerging quantum technologies, Indra aims to contribute to a European technological ecosystem capable of developing and deploying critical systems with reduced dependence on external technologies.

The ADEQUADE project received funding from the European Defence Fund under grant agreement No. 101103417 EDF-2021-DIS-RDIS-ADEQUADE.

About Indra Group
Indra Group (www.indracompany.com) is the foremost Spanish multinational and one of the leading European companies in the areas of defence and advanced digitization. It stands at the forefront of the defence, space, air traffic management, mobility, and transformational technology businesses through Minsait, and it integrates its sovereign AI, cybersecurity, and cyberdefence capabilities into IndraMind. Indra Group is paving the way to a more secure and better-connected future through innovative solutions, trusted relationships, and the very best talent. Sustainability is an integral part of its strategy and culture in order to overcome current and future social and environmental challenges. At the close of the 2025 financial year, Indra Group posted revenues totalling €5.457 billion and had a local presence in 46 countries and business operations in over 140 countries.

Communication Contact
Toñi García Carballal
magcarballal@indra.es
+34 648 10 29 48

This project has received funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF) under grant agreement no. 101103417 EDF-2021-DIS-RDIS-ADEQUADE.
Funded by the European Union. However, the views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and they do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority accept any liability for them.

SOURCE: Indra