China tests first portable quantum radio device

China is rapidly moving quantum science from the lab to real-world military operations. Its border troops are currently testing what could be the world's first portable quantum radio station, Science and Technology Daily reported. The prototype represents a new communications solution for the People's Liberation Army (PLA), designed for areas where conventional systems often fail.

The PLA Information Support Unit confirmed that the 3kg (≈6.6lb) prototype successfully received signals from a distance of tens of kilometers during recent exercises. The data was decoded in real time, the South China Morning Post reported. “The innovation brings a new communication option for combat forces,” said engineer Zhan Zihao. “In the future, the device will serve as an emergency solution in valleys, dense forests and other obstructed conditions.”

Border patrols often operate in steep canyons, remote plateaus, and forested areas where signals weaken or disappear altogether. The new device is designed to be a reliable backup in such conditions.

Radio communication remains one of the most reliable methods for long-distance communication, but traditional antennas are large, heavy, and expensive. Zhan and a manufacturer designed a receiving mechanism that reduced the antenna to just a few centimeters. The result is a compact system that, despite its small size, delivers the same power as larger devices, while being easily carried by a single soldier. After successful tests in the Saibei grasslands north of the Great Wall of China, they are preparing for trials along coastal front lines.

An official from the PLA's information unit said that devices based on quantum theory are gradually moving from laboratories to actual military operations. China and the United States are investing heavily in quantum technologies, seeing them as a strategic advantage in encryption, secure data transmission and battlefield detection. Among China's recent achievements is the mass production of an ultra-low-noise single-photon detector, called a "photon catcher," which can also detect stealth aircraft.

The US-China Commission warns that quantum computing will fundamentally change communications and data security. Although the US leads in research, China is accelerating the military use of quantum projects by heavily funding and linking state laboratories with the PLA.