IBM has announced a detailed roadmap for developing its large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer called Quantum Starling. The company plans to build the device using several components, including the new IBM Quantum Nighthawk processor, which is expected to release later this year.
To achieve this goal, IBM will develop a series of processors and adapters, with names inspired by Australian birds. These include the Quantum Loon chip, followed by the Quantum Kookaburra processor module in 2026, and the Quantum Cockatoo adapter in 2027.
The Quantum Nighthawk processor will replace the company’s existing Quantum Heron processor and is expected to have a higher number of quantum gates, initially at 5,000 but planned to increase to 15,000 by 2028. IBM believes that this device will be crucial for unlocking the full potential of quantum computing.
Fault-tolerant quantum computers are designed to correct errors and prevent them from spreading throughout the system. Quantum Starling is expected to be a key player in simulating complex physics or doing math that could decipher encrypted data. The project will be built at IBM’s Poughkeepsie Lab in New York, with researchers working towards this goal.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/10/ibm-quantum-processor-starling-supercomputer.html