{
  "id": 19662496,
  "title": "Quantum leap: IBM plans to scale beyond 1,000 qubits in 2027 with Nighthawk r3 processor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/quantum-leap-ibm-plans-to-scale-beyond-1-000-qubits-in-2027-with",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-12T13:37:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register Science",
    "slug": "the-register-science",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/systems/2026/11/12/quantum-leap-ibm-plans-to-scale-beyond-1000-qubits-in-2027-with-nighthawk-r3-processor/5309357"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The tech giant IBM has unveiled the Nighthawk r3, a next-generation quantum processor, which will boast 520 qubits as part of its plan for a fault-tolerant quantum system by 2029. Currently, IBM's Nighthawk r2 processor, launched in September, offers 120 qubits capable of executing circuits with 7,500 operations. The successor is projected to have four times as many qubits and perform 10,000 quantum operations, tackling intricate problems while preserving speed and precision. The Nighthawk r3 is expected to be unveiled in 2027, when IBM intends to merge two of the processors into a unified system with over 1,000 qubits. To address the need for executing thousands of quantum operations on around 100 qubits or more, the new processor will incorporate 10 chip-to-chip interconnects, known as l-couplers, designed for linking processors together. This technology was previously tested using Nighthawk r1 processors. IBM previously set its sights on achieving reliable error correction by 2029 with the Starling quantum processor, and now seeks to make it the first fault-tolerant quantum computer capable of running quantum circuits with 100 million quantum operations on 200 logical qubits. While fault-tolerant quantum technology often appears to be a decade away, some industry experts believe the likelihood of a working system is increasing due to heightened activity in creating quantum-resistant algorithms. Despite the ambitious goal, a professor from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, recently claimed that quantum computers had not yet factored any number greater than 21 without cheating. IBM has outlined a framework for Starling in a 2025 paper detailing hardware to implement bivariate bicycle quantum low-density parity check (qLDPC) error correction codes, which aim to minimize the number of physical qubits needed for storing and processing quantum information compared to existing surface codes. By employing this architecture, IBM intends to construct Starling from modules containing a quantum memory and logical processing unit (LPU), enabling logic operations on the memory. These modules will feature universal adapters, allowing them to connect via l-couplers. Furthermore, IBM is preparing to combine its quantum processors with classical high-performance compute (HPC) systems to explore enhanced quantum error correction techniques. Recently, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the US announced a similar system, integrating an IBM Quantum System Two with Nighthawk r2 quantum processors and Umbra, powered by AMD's 5th Gen Epyc CPUs and Instinct MI355X GPU accelerators. Additionally, IBM has formed a partnership with Japan's RIKEN scientific research institute, where an IBM Quantum System Two has been integrated with the Fugaku Arm-based supercomputer, which previously held the title of the world's most powerful system.",
  "summary": "New unit sports more qubits and is planned to be part of future fault-tolerant rig",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}