Rigetti Computing Stock Jumps 49 Percent on AF Contract
The company secured a $5.8 million defense contract and reported a 99.5 percent gate fidelity on its modular system.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Quantum Computing
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Rigetti Computing stock rose 49 percent this week following the announcement of a $5.8 million contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory and reports of improved system performance. The company also disclosed that its 36-qubit modular quantum processor has achieved a median two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.5 percent.
Why it matters
The surge in valuation signals rising investor confidence in the commercial viability of modular quantum architectures. This momentum is further bolstered by broader industry growth trends, highlighted by IonQ exceeding its own revenue guidance for 2025.
Rigetti reports its 36-qubit modular system achieves a 99.5% median two-qubit gate fidelity, measured via randomized benchmarking protocols in company labs. The architecture functions by wiring together four individual 9-qubit chiplets.
The players
Rigetti Computing
A developer of quantum integrated circuits and modular quantum systems based in Berkeley.
Air Force Research Laboratory
The primary scientific research organization for the United States Air Force and Space Force.
IonQ
A developer of trapped-ion quantum computing hardware that reported $130 million in 2025 revenue.
The details
The modular processor operates by linking multiple 9-qubit units to increase total processing capacity. Two-qubit gate fidelity—a measure of the system's ability to perform reliable operations without errors—is verified through randomized benchmarking, where researchers run sequences of gates to calculate the cumulative error rate. This approach aims to address the stability challenges typically inherent in scaling quantum hardware beyond individual chips.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Rigetti began a cluster of development announcements.
October 21, 2026: The $5.8 million Air Force Research Laboratory contract was disclosed.
Week ending October 25, 2026: Rigetti Computing stock rose 49 percent.
The Tech Race
Rigetti's recent performance benchmarks and defense contracts place it in direct competition with major players like IonQ as both firms attempt to transition from research labs to commercial delivery. Investors are monitoring whether Rigetti's modular 36-qubit system can maintain parity with rival architectures as revenue guidance continues to climb across the sector.
The Air Force contract funds specific research into cryogenic microwave components and quantum foundry services that will progress over the next five years. While this work remains in the research-to-foundry stage, it influences the hardware standards that may eventually support commercial quantum cloud access.
The takeaway
Rigetti's ability to maintain a debt-free position while scaling its modular architecture provides a stable runway for its multi-year military contracts. Observers should track the company's progress on scaling beyond 36 qubits as a benchmark for its competitive long-term roadmap.
Further reading
For more updates on the hardware race, visit Quantum Computing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Startup Fortune.
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