Los Alamos News Today
Global Positioning Systems’ (GPS) dependability is no longer a given in the high-stakes arena of contemporary warfare. Electronic warfare has made the skies a graveyard for advanced drones on the front lines of Syria and Ukraine, as adversaries increasingly use spoofing and jamming technology that makes conventional navigation ineffective. This particular weakness is what motivated two former U.S. Army Green Berets to abandon their combat gear for the demanding field of deep-tech entrepreneurship, relocating to New Mexico to develop a quantum-based remedy.
A Catalyst in Syria
Bandelier Technologies began with a 2022–2023 deployment in Syria. The creator and CEO, Stephen Buchanan, remembered a frustrating pattern of U.S. and allied drones falling in front of their facility. The crew initially doubted the operators’ competency, but the frequency of lfailures highlighted a systemic threat GPS signals were jammed.
This wasn’t a singular occurrence. According to Buchanan, the current conflict in Ukraine has compelled the military to virtually completely abandon GPS due to its frequent jamming, spoofing, or outright unavailability. Observing these tactical blunders personally brought to light a crucial weakness in national security: the requirement for a navigation system independent of satellite signals.
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The Quantum Alternative
Bandelier Technologies is creating quantum radar and sensing technology to address this. This technology, which uses quantum principles to give navigation and sensing capabilities that are much more difficult for enemies to disrupt, is described as a robust substitute for GPS. Buchanan envisions a wider horizon, even while the main focus is on defense applications to guarantee that US soldiers and their partners can operate in “GPS-denied” battle zones. Aiming for a future of “communications resiliency” where American technology stays “one step ahead” of any hindrance thrown by adversaries, the business is also investigating networking and communications technologies that may benefit non-defense sectors.
From Special Forces to New Mexico
Bandelier Technologies’ leadership offers a special fusion of superior business education and elite military experience. Josh Heebner, the company’s head of growth, joins Buchanan, who is presently pursuing an MBA at Harvard. Heebner, a graduate of Duke University’s MBA program, served with Buchanan in the 5th Special Forces Group and participated in several combat missions.
Another veteran, Wale Lawal, CEO of Mesa Quantum, was a contributing factor in the shift to the IT sector. Buchanan was intrigued by how drastically different quantum technology was from conventional tech endeavors after seeing Lawal lecture at Harvard on the unrealized possibilities of the sector. Eventually, Lawal directed Buchanan to the special prospects that the “Land of Enchantment” offered.
The LEEP Program: A Strategic Anchor
Buchanan did not make the decision to move their family from the East Coast to New Mexico lightly, especially because they had two children and one more was on the way. He attributes the decision to the New Mexico Lab Embedded Entrepreneur Program (LEEP). Currently in its fifth year, LEEP offers entrepreneurs a two-year residency to market technology created at national laboratories.
Buchanan and his group get health insurance, a stipend, and above all the chance to work with top scientists with LEEP. To improve their quantum systems, Bandelier is now collaborating with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) senior theoretical physicist Dr. Diego Dalvit. The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, the U.S. Economic Development Program, and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) are just a few of the strong networks that support this collaboration.
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Investment and Economic Impact
Bandelier’s invention has already drawn a sizable amount of venture cash due of its potential. A California-based company called CerraCap Impact Ventures has declared its intention to invest in the business. Bandelier is a “gem” that was found through the partnership with Los Alamos, according to CerraCap partner and LEEP program advisor Abhi Mukherjee.
The success of the company is also of interest to the state of New Mexico. In an effort to promote regional innovation, the New Mexico State Investment Council pledged up to $10 million to CerraCap in 2021. Buchanan wants to “build out this big company to manufacture systems in New Mexico” and “create a ton of New Mexico jobs” in addition to creating a product.
Looking Ahead
The goal is still evident as Buchanan gets ready to relocate his family and complete his degree. Bandelier Technologies plans to lead the way in the “primetime limelight” of quantum communications and sensing. These former Green Berets are working to ensure that the next drone to fly in a combat zone is guided by a signal that no adversary can jam by bridging the gap between national laboratory research and battlefield realities.
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