Mynaric, a leading provider of laser communications terminals for air, space and ground applications, has successfully demonstrated the transmission and reception of quantum encryption keys using commercially available laser communication terminals. This milestone, utilising Mynaric’s CONDOR Mk3, marks a major step forward in bringing quantum-secure communications out of the laboratory and into real-world operational systems.  

The tests, performed as part of the QuNET-initiative, sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, exceeded the original objective by achieving two-way quantum key exchange, meaning the CONDOR Mk3 both sent and received quantum keys. This bidirectional capability was beyond the scope of the initial test plan, which sought to send quantum keys, and highlights the maturity and robustness of the technology, and the efficacy for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) applications by Mynaric’s flagship CONDOR Mk3 optical communication terminal.

“These results are something we’re extremely proud of,” said Joachim Horwath, Chief Technology Officer of Mynaric. “By using commercial laser communication terminals to exchange quantum encryption keys, we’ve shown that laser communication is the critical enabler for practical quantum security. This is a real step toward ultra-secure communications that can protect the most sensitive data in the future and a further validation of the robustness and versatility of the CONDOR Mk3 platform.”

During the demonstration, in which the CONDOR Mk3 operated as part of a unique setup – with an innovative time-phase QKD system from the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute – the integrated system generated and exchanged a huge number of quantum-secured AES-256 encryption keys, over 29,000. The tests were groundbreaking in that they demonstrated the robustness of the setup, delivering stable key rates without interruption. This extremely high-frequency, continuous ultra-secure key generation equates to dramatically reduced security risks and readiness for practically deployed secure communications.

“The system set-up successfully created and securely shared tens of thousands of real-world-grade encryption keys at a speed and scale that proves it is ready for everyday, operational QKD-networks,” stated Mynaric’s Dr Felix Geiger, who led the tests at Mynaric’s Munich facilities, together with QuNET partners MO-SPACE3 and the Fraunhofer HHI. The achievements represent a critical kick-off milestone for the main testing campaign under QuNET4, scheduled for October 2026, when QKD technology will be further validated under expanded operational scenarios across Germany and with many consortium partners in QuNET.

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