From Aircraft Development to Efficient Airspace Management How Quantum Computing Is Changing the Aerospace Industry

In 2025, the aerospace industry was under massive transformational pressure. This is because air travel remains attractive, geopolitical tensions push for prioritized defense programs, and a new space race is beginning. This increases the pressure on manufacturers, airlines, airports, and space companies to develop faster, plan more efficiently, and utilize resources better.

Classic computing methods in aerospace are increasingly reaching their limits. Systems are becoming more complex, and the number of variables is rising, requiring enormous computational effort for many issues today. Quantum computing addresses this and expands the industry's toolbox. It promises advances in simulation, optimization, signal detection, and material research. Numerous companies are already testing initial applications. As in so many industries, quantum computing is gaining momentum in the aerospace industry as well. The potential can already be identified particularly clearly in three areas.

Faster Aircraft Development Through Quantum-Assisted Simulation

The development of new aircraft is time-consuming and expensive. Wind tunnel tests and numerical flow simulations (Computational Fluid Dynamics, CFD) tie up research capacities and budgets for years. Quantum computing can accelerate these processes by enabling particularly precise digital simulations and reducing the number of physical tests.

This is not an abstract vision of the future but the focus of concrete projects. Companies like Boeing and Rolls-Royce are exploring quantum algorithms to optimize engine performance and wing geometries. Rolls-Royce, for instance, is working on quantum-based approaches to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Both are gaining importance as airlines increasingly have to meet stricter climate regulations.

When engineers simulate flow and combustion using quantum or hybrid methods, they can refine their designs faster and more efficiently. This significantly shortens development cycles. The transition from purely classical to hybrid quantum-classical methods enables more complex simulations without escalating costs. With more powerful quantum computers, the realization of fully mapping entire aircraft systems as digital twins becomes increasingly likely. This would reduce time to market and make research and development more efficient. Future aircraft could thus be developed and manufactured faster and more cost-effectively than today.

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More Efficient Logistics and Airspace Management

The operation of airlines and airports is a highly complex logistical task. Thousands of flights must be scheduled, gates assigned, crews managed, and aircraft optimally deployed. Even today, these tasks push traditional computer architectures to their limits.

This is where significant potential lies for aviation logistics, as quantum computing is particularly well-suited to these optimization gaps. An example is route planning. Quantum algorithms take many variables into account simultaneously and find solutions in a short time, whereas classical systems would take significantly longer. Airlines can dynamically adjust flight routes, for instance, based on weather data, fuel targets, and airspace capacities. An experiment by NASA and its partners suggests that quantum-based route optimization has the potential to measurably reduce flight times. On a large scale, this would significantly lower fuel consumption. Quantum computing thus serves as both a lever for cost reduction and a tool for achieving sustainability goals.

Airports also benefit from quantum-assisted optimization. Arrivals, departures, and gate assignments can be more closely aligned with reality and recalculated more frequently. This allows operators to better manage delays and plan rotations more reliably.

Logistics companies face similar challenges. Planning transport chains and package routes using quantum-optimized methods shortens delivery times, reduces fuel consumption, and optimizes vehicle utilization. The underlying problem structures are similar to many issues in aviation.

New Materials for Aerospace

The search for lighter, more durable, and heat-resistant materials is a core area of aerospace development. Quantum computing can accelerate this process by simulating molecular interactions, thereby supporting work on new alloys, coatings, and composite materials.

Aircraft manufacturers are already examining how quantum algorithms can advance material research. The focus is on high-entropy alloys that withstand extreme temperatures in hypersonic flight, as well as corrosion-resistant coatings that extend the lifespan of structures. Lightweight composite materials are particularly important. Using quantum-based models, the ratio of weight to load-bearing capacity can be specifically optimized. This improves fuel efficiency.

More precise simulations make it possible to predict mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties more accurately. This reduces companies' need for prototype testing, potentially resulting in significant research cost savings and shorter development cycles. Additionally, there is the concept of quantum-assisted digital twins of materials. Engineers can virtually test the behavior of new materials under real-world stresses even before the first physical prototype is created. This makes material development faster and more predictable.

Outlook: Radar, Satellites, and new Cruising Altitudes

The examples mentioned only mark the beginning of the transformation phase. Quantum computing has the potential to fundamentally change other areas of aerospace. This includes the optimization of satellite constellations, where orbits and positions are planned to balance coverage, latency, and collision risks, as well as signal detection in complex radar systems. Modern radars process large amounts of data from many sensors and evaluate multiple threat characteristics simultaneously. This increases accuracy but makes processing significantly more computationally intensive. Quantum algorithms can help identify relevant signals more quickly and reduce false alarms.

Many aerospace companies are already investing in quantum computing to gain an advantage. With each new hardware generation, the chances increase for faster aircraft development, more efficient airspace management, and new material classes that enable longer product lifespans and new cruising altitudes. For the industry, the question is no longer whether quantum computing will make a difference, but how quickly the technology can be integrated into their processes. Only those who invest early in quantum expertise, skilled professionals, and a clear application strategy will secure a measurable edge. (se)

*Head of Marketing and Business Development at Classiq

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