The US military is set to receive portable atomic clocks for use in aircraft, ships, and even rockets. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has developed the Robust Optical Clock Network (ROCkN) to create optical atomic clocks that are more accurate than GPS atomic clocks. These clocks are small, lightweight, and require minimal power, making them ideal for use outside of laboratories. They can be used to provide precise time measurements in aircraft, ships, and rockets, allowing for accurate positioning without the need for external sources that can be disrupted by enemies.
Currently, optical atomic clocks are still in the development stage. They have a clock frequency in the optical spectral range, which is more than 10,000 times higher than that of current atomic clocks. This provides a 100-fold increase in accuracy and significantly reduces averaging times. If the ROCkN program is successful, the new atomic clocks could reduce time errors and increase precision by 100 times. Scientists believe that the program could also develop other technologies and components that could serve as the basis for a networked clock architecture.
The first phase of development will create a mobile atomic clock that can fit into a satellite or fighter jet. Its accuracy is expected to be in the picosecond range. The clock must be resistant to temperature, acceleration, and vibration to be used on board. The next phase will create an atomic clock in a portable case that can be used in a field tent. This clock will allow for navigation with GPS-equivalent accuracy in the nanosecond range for at least 30 days without GPS. The ROCkN program has the potential to revolutionize precision warfare by providing the US military with accurate and reliable time measurements that cannot be disrupted by enemies.
