ORQESTRA

Challenge

Quantum computing is advancing rapidly, threatening the public-key encryption systems that protect military communications and critical infrastructure today. While no quantum computer is yet powerful enough to break current cryptography, this is expected to change within the coming years – creating an urgent need to act now. Transitioning to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is not straightforward: keys, signatures, and ciphertexts can be substantially larger than existing systems handle, and legacy defence equipment poses particular integration challenges. Europe has recognised this as a strategic priority, with the European Commission and Member States publishing a coordinated roadmap for PQC transition.

About the project

ORQESTRA is a 36-month research project supported by the European Defence Fund, bringing together an international consortium of research institutions, technology companies, and defence stakeholders – a total of 20 partners and 2 affiliated entities – from 11 EU member states. The project aims to make PQC practical and deployable in real-world military systems, including legacy defence equipment that existing solutions were not designed to accommodate.

The consortium partners will develop a palette of programmable software optimisations and shared hardware accelerators, delivering formally verified and efficient PQC implementations. ORQESTRA is being launched at a time when Europe is placing special focus on security, resilience, and technological sovereignty – and quantum technologies have become a matter of immediate strategic relevance for defence and critical infrastructure protection.

The role of LMT

LMT Group joins ORQESTRA as a key consortium member, bringing its position as operator of critical national connectivity infrastructure and trusted partner to Latvia's National Armed Forces and Ministry of Defence. Latvia is a regional leader in quantum technology – the first Baltic state to establish a quantum-secure communications network – and dedicates 4.9% of GDP to defence in 2026, one of NATO's highest rates.

Through ORQESTRA, LMT Group works with Europe's leading research and technology partners to develop PQC capabilities that can be implemented where they matter most: in operational military networks, installations, and civilian infrastructure. 

“As the operator of critical national connectivity and a trusted partner to Latvia's National Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence, LMT Group sees post-quantum readiness as a responsibility we must act on now. ORQESTRA allows us to work with Europe's top research and technology partners to strengthen resilience and technological sovereignty – delivering PQC that can be implemented where it matters most: in operational military networks and installations and civilian infrastructure.” – Ingmārs Pūķis, VP and Member of the Board, LMT

ORQESTRA is co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement Nr. 101224573, awarded through the European Defence Fund (EDF) in 2025.