IBM unveils Quantum Nighthawk and Quantum Loon processors, advancing toward quantum advantage by 2026 and fault-tolerant computing by 2029.
In a groundbreaking step toward the future of quantum computing, IBM has introduced two cutting-edge processors—Quantum Nighthawk and Quantum Loon—aimed at achieving quantum advantage by 2026 and fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2029.
Unveiled at IBM’s annual Quantum Developer Conference, these processors mark a major leap in performance, fabrication, and scalability. The Quantum Nighthawk features 120 qubits and 218 tunable couplers, enabling circuits with 30% higher complexity compared to its predecessors. IBM plans to deliver the processor to users by the end of 2025, underscoring its momentum in making quantum computing practical and commercially viable.
To further accelerate chip production, IBM has transitioned its fabrication to a 300mm wafer facility at the Albany NanoTech Complex, significantly boosting development speed and chip complexity. This move is expected to double production efficiency and enhance design precision, paving the way for scalable quantum systems capable of tackling real-world industrial and scientific challenges.
Meanwhile, Quantum Loon, IBM’s experimental processor, integrates all hardware components essential for fault-tolerant quantum computing. The company has also achieved a tenfold speed-up in quantum error correction decoding using classical computing hardware—reaching this milestone a full year ahead of schedule.
“There are many pillars to bringing truly useful quantum computing to the world,” said Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research. “We believe IBM is uniquely positioned to rapidly advance quantum software, hardware, fabrication, and error correction.”
IBM’s roadmap includes future versions of the Nighthawk processor capable of executing up to 15,000 two-qubit gates by 2028, with verified quantum advantage demonstrations expected as early as 2026. The company is also collaborating with Algorithmiq, the Flatiron Institute, and BlueQubit to validate performance benchmarks through an open community quantum advantage tracker.
Sabrina Maniscalco, CEO of Algorithmiq, noted, “We are seeing promising experimental results, and independent simulations validate its classical hardness.” Hayk Tepanyan, CTO of BlueQubit, added, “Our work supports instances where quantum computers are starting to outperform classical computers by orders of magnitude.”
To complement its hardware innovations, IBM has upgraded its open-source quantum software platform, Qiskit, achieving a 24% increase in computational accuracy using dynamic circuits and a 100-fold reduction in data extraction costs through HPC-powered error mitigation.
Collectively, these advancements demonstrate IBM’s strategic commitment to scaling quantum computing into a practical, high-fidelity system. With its accelerated roadmap, cross-industry collaborations, and enhanced fabrication capabilities, IBM is positioning itself at the forefront of the quantum revolution—bringing the world closer than ever to realizing the true power of quantum advantage.
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