The recently released Department of Defense's latest policy, Our North, Strong and Free, outlines the federal government's progress on two major security challenges facing Canada: Arctic warming and cyberwarfare. There is.
A key focus of the policy update is the need to develop cutting-edge quantum-based defense technologies to help Canada address these two threats.
Quantum technology harnesses the sensitivity of subatomic particles to create increasingly accurate environmental measurements. This will allow Canada to better track environmental changes, potential intruders on sovereign territory, and the onset of cyber-attacks before they become real threats. This will bring about major changes in both the physical and cyber realms.
The Arctic and climate change are a major focus of policy updates, as melting polar ice makes it easier for competing nations to traverse the region and reap economic benefits.
Of particular concern are ships from Russia and China, Canada's two biggest adversaries. To combat this threat, Canada says it intends to develop improved quantum sensing technology that allows light sources to more sensitively and accurately sense the environment over a period of time.
(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlyanichenko)
quantum technology strategy
Just months before the release of the policy update, Canada announced Quantum 2030, a strategy outlining its quantum goals and how it aims to implement them.
Over the next seven years, Canada will mobilize allies and research teams to fine-tune the technology. We are currently in the first year of a strategy that calls for continued research in quantum technologies. The next few years will focus on the goal of “Our North, Strong and Free.”
Quantum sensing has been specialized and applied to radar technology used to map and monitor the Arctic. Additionally, with the support of our Five Eyes allies, Canada's information is being made quantum secure through major investments in encryption.
This means Canadian intellectual property generated through dozens of nationally funded projects could be further protected from competitive and hostile entities such as China and Russia.
The Department of Defense and the Canadian Armed Forces announced their first major quantum strategy in 2021, the Quantum Science and Technology Strategy.
This strategy served as the foundation for Canada's quantum industry, and its goal was to ensure that quantum could be applied to defence. This was the first time Canada had linked quantum technology, climate and the Arctic.
These promising proposals led to the development of a formal quantum-focused strategy entitled National Quantum Strategy 2023. He was allocated $360 million to address existing knowledge gaps in quantum development.
Collaboration with academia and the private sector
We have worked directly with both academic institutions and private industry on quantum technologies. The objective is to invest in a diversified quantum portfolio to protect information, process data through quantum computing, and detect emerging threats in Canada and allied territories.
Sensing technology is a key element in each of these quantum technology strategies.
This technology will be essential for future climate change detection and could play a key role in Canada's pursuit of innovative, new and useful technologies that benefit scientific leadership in our allies.
The latest defense policy update states goals to improve search and rescue procedures in the north, increase Arctic nautical charts, and strengthen surveillance of NORAD shared airspace. The increased sensitivity of quantum sensors will enable Canada to make these contributions.
Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick
cyber attack
“Our North, Strong and Free” also called for the development of appropriate countermeasures against potential cyber-attacks. Canada has sought protection from state-sponsored hackers through quantum cryptography.
Quantum-based cyberspace protection prevents incredibly efficient computers from breaking the code by fundamentally slowing down information processing capabilities.
This policy update focuses on the cyber domain, which includes all aspects of the public and private digital sectors, and is driven by a global increase in gray zone conflicts, or actions by states that do not necessarily justify a declaration of war. ing.
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Typically, this involves cyberattacks such as the Russian disinformation campaign that spread during the 2016 US election.
In its policy update, Canada said it will consider not only quantum computing to combat cyber threats, but also artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technological advances to keep Canadians safe online. Securing Canada's information helps protect Canada from potential gray area attacks such as intellectual property theft.
Advance
The federal government, with the support of our allies, is quietly but purposefully working on cybersecurity and Arctic safety as Canada's top national security priorities.
The update also promised to increase funding for NORAD and NATO from 1.33% to 1.76% of Canada's GDP.
Although still below the NATO guideline of 2%, these increases also suggest that Canada is taking its security seriously.
