IonQ has been selected to support the Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) indefinite‑delivery/indefinite‑quantity (IDIQ) contract, which carries a $151 billion ceiling. The award gives IonQ a framework to compete for future task orders under the SHIELD program, allowing the company to deliver its full portfolio of quantum technologies—including computing, networking, sensing, and security—to U.S. defense customers.
The selection positions IonQ to capture a substantial share of the U.S. quantum defense market and reinforces its strategy of integrating quantum capabilities across multiple domains. IonQ’s portfolio, supported by subsidiaries such as Capella Space, Skyloom, and Vector Atomic, aligns with the SHIELD program’s emphasis on rapid acquisition of layered defensive technologies.
IonQ’s recent financial performance shows revenue of $79.84 million, a 113% year‑over‑year increase, and a full‑year revenue forecast of $106–$110 million. While the company remains unprofitable, the SHIELD contract provides a potential revenue upside that could accelerate growth beyond the current forecasted range.
The award follows IonQ’s 2025 achievement of 99.99% two‑qubit gate fidelity, a world‑record performance that is critical for high‑precision defense applications. This technological milestone likely played a key role in the agency’s decision to include IonQ in the SHIELD IDIQ vehicle.
IonQ is also pursuing a $1.8 billion acquisition of SkyWater Technology, expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2026. The acquisition will create a vertically integrated quantum platform, enhancing IonQ’s ability to deliver end‑to‑end solutions to defense customers and strengthening its competitive position in the SHIELD program.
"IonQ brings together a broad set of quantum technologies and supporting capabilities that reflect years of investment across computing, networking, sensing, and security. We look forward to continuing our work with U.S. government partners across a range of research, development, and innovation programs." – Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ
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