As part of a joint project with Air Force Research Laboratory, IonQ constructs first networked quantum systems among remote quantum processing units. [Case Number: AFRL-2026-1742]

IonQ (NYSE:IONQ), the leading quantum company, today announced it has achieved a foundational technical milestone by photonically interconnecting two independent trapped-ion quantum systems. This achievement marks the first demonstration of connected, commercial quantum computers, a critical step toward scaling quantum computation beyond a single processor.

By successfully linking two remote quantum systems, IonQ has validated the generation, transmission, and detection of photons used to enable quantum entanglement between two commercial IonQ computers at a distance for the first time. This major commercial result reinforces prior lab demonstrations and the theory of using photonic links to interconnect separated trapped-ion platforms while preserving the coherence necessary for advanced quantum operations.