IonQ and Heven AeroTech partner to develop quantum-enabled drones for national security applications. * Partnership to integrate IonQ's quantum technologies into Heven's long-range, hydrogen-powered drone platform * IonQ's investment will accelerate the development of quantum-enabled endpoints as it builds the Quantum Internet on the ground, in air, and in space COLLEGE PARK, MD - November 24, 2025 - IonQ (NYSE: IONQ), the world's leading quantum company, today announced a new investment and strategic partnership with Heven AeroTech, a developer of advanced hydrogen-powered Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) solutions for defense and aerospace missions. The agreement will enable Heven AeroTech to integrate IonQ's quantum computing, quantum networking, quantum sensing, and quantum security technologies into its autonomous aerial systems, helping redefine mission resilience, stealth, and operational performance in GPS-denied environments. "By integrating IonQ's world-leading quantum technologies, Heven AeroTech will deliver a new class of unparalleled UAS capabilities," said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. "This partnership positions Heven's drones to tackle missions no other player can with unmatched precision, resilience, and security." Founded in 2019, Heven AeroTech is a Virginia-based company that pioneered the use of hydrogen fuel cell propulsion in aerial vehicles, enabling its drones, like the Heven Z1, to fly up to 600 miles for more than 10 hours. Unlike traditional electric or fossil fuel drones, Heven's systems combine long-endurance flight with advanced autonomy and renewable energy-powered stealth capabilities, positioning the company as a trailblazer in aerial robotics. Through this collaboration, IonQ and Heven AeroTech joint initiatives may include: * Quantum Networking and Security: Creating ultra-secure, reliable links between drones using quantum communications, also enabling mission resilience. * Quantum Computing: Leveraging IonQ's quantum systems to optimize fleet routing and real-time fusion of drone and satellite imagery. * Quantum Sensing: Deploying quantum sensors for applications such as alternative positioning, navigation, and timing onboard Heven drones. The partnership unlocks IonQ's deployment of quantum technologies in real-world aerospace scenarios while providing Heven AeroTech access to cutting-edge quantum capabilities that further differentiate its offerings in defense, intelligence, and aerospace markets. "IonQ's quantum technologies are a natural fit for our hydrogen-powered aerial platforms," said Ben Levinson, Founder and CEO of Heven AeroTech. "This partnership enables us to push the boundaries of endurance, autonomy, and security in ways previously thought impossible. Together, we're building a new generation of uncrewed systems that can thrive in contested environments and deliver critical capabilities for the missions that matter most." As part of the partnership, Jordan Shapiro, President and General Manager of IonQ's Quantum Networking, Sensing & Security division, will join Heven AeroTech's Board of Directors. The move reflects IonQ's growing leadership in applying quantum innovation to next-generation defense platforms. This announcement builds on IonQ's acquisitions of Vector Atomic and Capella Space and the company's mission to develop the world's first quantum-secure global communications network. The partnership also extends the company's strength in U.S. defense and networking projects with its four ~$100M U.S. Air Force Research Lab contracts in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. The systems that will be deployed via these contracts will help drive scalable and secure quantum computers and networks in the U.S. and around the world. About IonQ IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world's most complex problems. IonQ's newest generation of quantum computers, IonQ Forte and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025. The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world's most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ's advancements in quantum networking also position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet. IonQ has operations in Maryland, Washington, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, United Kingdom, Toronto, South Korea, Sweden, and Switzerland. The company's innovative technology and rapid growth were recognized in Fortune Future 50, Newsweek's 2025 Excellence Index 1000, and Forbes' 2025 Most Successful Mid-Cap Companies list. Available through all major cloud providers, IonQ is making quantum more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com. IonQ Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words. Statements that are not historical in nature, including the words "accelerate," "can," "creating," "building," "builds," "deploying," "develop," "deliver," "development," "drive," "enabling," "extends," "growing," "help," "leveraging," "integrate," "integrating," "may," "positioning," "positions," "providing," "push," "tackle," "will," and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those related to the IonQ's quantum computing capabilities and plans; the necessity, effectiveness, and future impacts of IonQ's offerings; and the scalability, fidelity, efficiency, viability, accessibility, effectiveness, importance, reliability, performance, speed, impact, practicality, feasibility, and commercial-readiness of IonQ's offerings. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: changes in the competitive industries in which IonQ operates, including development of competing technologies; IonQ's ability to deliver, and customers' ability to generate, value from IonQ's offerings; IonQ's ability to implement its business plans, forecasts, roadmaps and other expectations, to identify and realize partnerships and opportunities, and to engage new and existing customers; IonQ's ability to effectively enter new markets; and IonQ's ability to deliver services and products within currently anticipated timelines. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's filings, including but not limited to those described in the "Risk Factors" section of IonQ's most recent periodic financial report (10-Q or 10-K) filed by IonQ with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and IonQ assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. IonQ does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations. IonQ media contact:

Most popular military news. Military.com | By Allen Frazier A Michigan defense contractor has developed a mobile refueling system that generates hydrogen fuel from solar power and atmospheric moisture, enabling military drones to operate continuously for up to six months in remote areas without fuel resupply. Sesame Solar and hydrogen drone manufacturer Heven AeroTech announced the Drone Refueling Nanogrid last week, a trailer-sized system designed to address fuel logistics challenges in contested or remote environments. A prime contractor is already marketing the technology to War Department customers and allied nations, with particular interest from the Indo-Pacific region. The system pairs with Heven's Z-1 vertical takeoff and landing drones, which run on hydrogen fuel cells instead of batteries or gasoline. The combination delivers significant tactical advantages. "Silent, hydrogen-powered drones outperform traditional battery-powered or gas-powered drones for several reasons," said Lauren Flanagan, CEO of Sesame Solar. "First, most battery-powered drones can only run for an hour or two before needing to be recharged. Both battery and gas-powered drones have higher thermal and acoustic signatures, which increase enemy detection." The Z-1 can fly for over eight hours per mission - roughly six times longer than battery-powered systems - while the hydrogen fuel cells produce lower heat and noise signatures that make the drones harder to detect and target. Once deployed, the nanogrid can support 24/7 drone operations for up to six months without requiring fuel deliveries. The system takes about 15 minutes to set up and requires one person to operate. Solar power converts air into drone fuel. The mobile refueling station uses solar panels to generate electricity, which powers an atmospheric water generator that pulls moisture from the air. The water then goes through electrolysis to split it into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gets stored in a solid-state system at low pressure, eliminating explosion risks associated with compressed hydrogen tanks. "At Heven, our hydrogen-powered UAS paired with Sesame's Mobile DRNs can stay aloft 24/7 and operate for months in the field while being stationed in remote environments, without the need to bring in hydrogen," said Bentzion Levinson, CEO of Heven AeroTech. Each Z-1 drone carries a 10-pound sensor payload for intelligence gathering and surveillance missions. The complete system includes two drones, satellite communications, radar, edge computing, and atmospheric water generation. Army Corps of Engineers, Marines already using earlier versions. Sesame Solar has been supplying mobile power systems to military customers for four years. Sixty-five nanogrids are already deployed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Marines, and other customers across the United States, Caribbean, and Indo-Pacific, though those earlier systems powered different applications like perimeter security and communications. The company recently opened a 38,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Jackson, Michigan, and has increased production from tens of units to hundreds. Flanagan said the company plans to ramp production to thousands of units as it raises additional capital. Each complete Drone Refueling Nanogrid system starts at $1.5 million, depending on specifications. However, Flanagan emphasized that the system eliminates fuel supply chain expenses over six-month deployments. System targets Pacific operations, border security. The technology could prove valuable for Marine units operating on remote Pacific islands, Special Forces conducting extended surveillance in hostile territory, or border patrol operations in desert areas. In scenarios where fuel convoys become targets or supply lines are vulnerable, a system that generates its own fuel eliminates a critical weak point. The Pentagon has been pushing to expand drone capabilities following lessons from Ukraine, where unmanned systems have become central to modern warfare. War Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo in July directing the military services to equip every squad with drones by the end of fiscal year 2026, with Indo-Pacific units getting priority. Hydrogen fuel cell drones have been in development since NASA's experimental programs in the 1990s, but logistics challenges around hydrogen storage and refueling have limited military adoption. Sesame and Heven's system aims to solve that problem by generating and storing hydrogen on-site. U.S. Manufacturing and domestic supply chain. The company stressed its domestic supply chain as a selling point as the Pentagon works to reduce dependence on Chinese manufacturing. "Unlike many electronics systems that source parts from China, Sesame does not source any power generation or storage components from China," Flanagan said. The nanogrids are manufactured entirely in the United States. "By removing reliance on fuel supply chains, often controlled by countries outside of the U.S., we're giving troops the ability to focus on mission-critical tasks, making military operations more efficient and helping to keep Americans and our allies safer," Flanagan said. The new system remains in the marketing phase, with no confirmed military purchases of the drone refueling version yet. But with a growing Pentagon emphasis on extended drone operations and energy independence, the technology offers a potential solution to keeping unmanned systems airborne in places where fuel trucks can't go. Allen Frazier is a U.S. Army veteran and military journalist based in Wyoming who covers military history, current events, and world affairs for Military.com.