What Xairos does

Xairos Systems, Inc. is a space and technology company founded in 2018 and headquartered at Quantum Commons in Arvada, Colorado, that builds quantum-enabled Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) systems as a resilient alternative to GNSS-dependent GPS timing. Its core technology is a patented Quantum Time Transfer (QTT) protocol that uses entangled photon distribution to deliver sub-nanosecond timing accuracy, claimed at 1,000 times the accuracy of GPS, with provable quantum security that is resistant to jamming and spoofing. The product portfolio centers on the Ares Quantum Optical Terminal — an all-in-one free-space optical terminal integrating 10 Gbps communications with quantum-secure timing — supported by the Athena Connect free-space optical timing module and Athena FibreLite fibre-based synchronization module for critical-infrastructure applications.

The company's go-to-market is enterprise and government field sales into defense and critical-infrastructure customers, executed primarily through competitive government contracts and partnerships rather than disclosed commercial pricing. Named customers and partners include Innovate UK (£1.4M TimeLink programme), the European Space Agency (NAVISP Phase 2 and Obs2OGS via Raymetrics), the US Space Force (SpaceWERX SBIR), the Netherlands Ministry of Defence, Vodafone, Cranfield University, TNO, and the Colorado Quantum Incubator. Revenue mechanics combine government R&D programme awards, hardware sales of quantum optical terminals, and professional services for satellite-based QTT development, with operations spanning Colorado (Arvada, Lafayette), Cambridge UK, and Delft, Netherlands through wholly-owned subsidiary Xairos UK, Ltd.

Name

Xairos

Legal name

Xairos Systems, Inc.

Website

https://xairos.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Xairos Systems develops quantum-enabled Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) technology using its patented Quantum Time Transfer protocol, selling the Ares Quantum Optical Terminal and Athena modules to defense agencies, space agencies, and critical-infrastructure operators seeking GNSS-independent timing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quantum Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Hardware

NAICS

Satellite Telecommunications (51741), Satellite Telecommunications (517410)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Computer Communications Equipment (3576)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum RF & Microwave Sensing (Quantum Receivers) (HDAGAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Transceivers, Modems & Photonic Interfaces (HDAGAFAE), Quantum Network Timing, Synchronization & Clock Distribution (HDAGAFAF), Oscillators & Frequency Standards (OCXO/Rubidium/Cesium/Chip-Scale Atomic) (HDAFAKAG)

Keywords

• Quantum timing technology
• Resilient PNT systems
• Quantum optical communications
• GNSS-independent timing
• Free-space optical terminals

Headquarters

HQ city

Highlands Ranch

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government and Defense Contracts: Revenue from government contracts including Innovate UK (£1.4M TimeLink programme), ESA NAVISP projects, and defense-related programs for quantum timing solutions.
2. Quantum Hardware Sales: Sale of quantum optical terminals (Ares) and quantum timing equipment to government and enterprise customers for defense and critical infrastructure applications.
3. Research and Development Services: Phased project work with ESA and other space agencies developing satellite-based quantum time transfer technology.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Xairos develops and sells quantum-based Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) hardware and protocols that deliver GNSS-independent, sub-nanosecond timing synchronization. Its flagship product is the Ares Quantum Optical Terminal, an all-in-one terminal combining 10 Gbps free-space optical communications with quantum-secure timing via entangled photon distribution, complemented by the Athena Connect and Athena FibreLite modules for free-space and fibre-based timing applications.

Product overview

Xairos is building a quantum-enabled Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) system using its patented Quantum Time Transfer (QTT) technology. The product portfolio centers on the Ares Quantum Optical Terminal as the flagship hardware product, which integrates 10 Gbps free-space optical communications with quantum-secure timing and entangled photon distribution. Supporting this core offering are the Athena Connect (free-space optical timing) and Athena FibreLite (fibre-based synchronization) modules for the Xairos-Athena product line. Together, these products deliver sub-nanosecond timing accuracy—1000 times better than current systems—providing resilient, GNSS-independent timing for critical infrastructure, defense applications, and commercial markets where GPS vulnerability poses operational risks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ares Quantum Optical Terminal An all-in-one free-space optical communications terminal that integrates 10 Gbps optical communications with entangled photon distribution for quantum-secure timing and encryption, designed to provide resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities in contested environments where GPS and RF signals are unreliable, jammed, or spoofed. Targeted at defense and critical infrastructure customers.
• Athena Connect Free-space optical timing module developed under the TimeLink programme as part of the Xairos-Athena product line, providing GNSS-independent timing for critical infrastructure using quantum-resilient optical links.
• Athena FibreLite Fibre-based synchronization module of the Xairos-Athena product line, providing secure timing synchronization via optical fibre for finance, telecommunications, and defense sectors.
• Quantum Time Transfer (QTT) Protocol Patented quantum timing protocol enabling sub-nanosecond-level accuracy (claimed 1000x better than current systems) for global timing synchronization, using quantum hardware, precise clocks, optical communications, and entangled photons to deliver resilient, quantum-secure timing as an alternative to vulnerable GNSS signals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000x more accuracy than GPS
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Innovate UKcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2026Xairos UK completed Phase 1 of the Innovate UK Quantum PNT Mission through its £1.4 million TimeLink programme, de-risking patented quantum protocols and establishing a UK-based hardware and software baseline for resilient, GNSS-independent timing.
• Duality Quantum PhotonicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in TimeLink programme contributing photonic quantum technology expertise for the Xairos-Athena product line development.
• Lumino TechnologiessupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartner in TimeLink programme providing technology integration for quantum timing solutions.
• Cranfield UniversitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in TimeLink programme contributing research expertise in quantum timing for critical infrastructure.
• Quantum Technology AssociatessupportingTechnology or IntegrationPartner in TimeLink programme providing quantum technology expertise for PNT applications.
• VodafonesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTelecommunications partner in TimeLink programme advancing quantum timing for telecom infrastructure resilience.
• Colorado Quantum IncubatorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for development of nation's first open-access commercially available third-party validation testbed for quantum timing technologies at BioMed Realty's Flatiron Park in Boulder, Colorado.
• BioMed RealtysupportingOthersReal estate partner providing Flatiron Park facility in Boulder, Colorado for quantum timing testbed location.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerXairos UK selected by Raymetrics and ESA for Quantum Receiver delivery to upgrade Greek observatories into optical ground stations as part of Obs2OGS project, supporting Greece's Hellenic quantum communication initiative.
• RaymetricscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrime contractor with ESA for Greek observatory upgrades where Xairos provides Quantum Receiver technology.
• European Space Agency (ESA) NAVISPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhase 2 of ESA NAVISP project to develop satellite-based Quantum Time Transfer technology for secure, high-precision time synchronization between ground-based clocks and satellites.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKiQQer project successfully demonstrated free-space quantum time transfer over 150 meters, leading to follow-on project for quantum time transfer protocol over synchronized coexisting classical/quantum channel with Photonic Integrated Circuit-based Entangled Photon-Pair Sources.
• Netherlands Ministry of DefencesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuantum Challenge partnership for Quantum Time Transfer Free-Space Demonstrator Presentation.
• Aerospace CorporationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology Readiness Level (TRL) Bootcamp providing innovation assessment, technical guidance, and lab access as part of US Space Force project to develop Fusion PNT of Quantum and Optical Synchronization of Clock Ensembles.
• US Space ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpaceWERX SBIR project for quantum and optical synchronization of clock ensembles for defense architectures.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vector Atomic: US-based quantum sensing and PNT startup building GPS-free, quantum-enabled positioning, navigation, and timing solutions for defense customers. Closest direct competitor to Xairos in quantum PNT for contested environments.
• Infleqtion (formerly ColdQuanta): Quantum sensing and PNT company developing cold-atom-based inertial and timing devices for navigation without GPS. Competes with Xairos in the emerging quantum-PNT-for-defense category.
• ID Quantique: Swiss quantum communications company providing quantum key distribution and quantum-secure networks, with overlap to Xairos's entangled-photon-based secure timing and optical ground station work.
• SpeQtral: Singapore-based startup building satellite quantum key distribution and entanglement-based quantum communications — directly overlapping with Xairos's satellite QTT and optical ground station initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• Safran (Orolia) — Timing & PNT: Acquired Orolia to become a dominant incumbent in resilient PNT, supplying hardened GPS receivers, oscillators, and eLoran systems to defense and critical infrastructure. The established competitor Xairos must displace or partner with.
• Honeywell Aerospace (PNT): Incumbent supplier of aerospace navigation, inertial, and timing systems with deep defense and commercial aviation penetration. Represents the entrenched PNT prime against which Xairos must differentiate.
• L3Harris Technologies: Major defense prime with broad PNT and resilient timing portfolios across GPS, anti-jam receivers, and alternative navigation programs. A likely incumbent competitor for any Golden Dome–class architecture work.
• Microchip Technology (Timing & Sync): Supplies precision timing ICs, atomic clocks, and synchronization modules widely used in telecom, finance, and defense timing infrastructure — overlapping with the infrastructure layer Xairos targets with Athena products.

Emerging players

• Q-CTRL: Quantum control software company that has expanded into quantum sensing and PNT for defense customers (e.g., Ironestone Opal). Overlaps with Xairos on quantum-enabled navigation and timing offerings.
• SandboxAQ: Quantum/AI company with a dedicated AQ Navigation division focused on GPS-denied PNT for defense and enterprise — adjacent to Xairos's resilient timing and quantum sensing roadmap.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/xairos2
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/xairos
• Facebookfacebook.com/xairosfacebook

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Xairos