IBM Unveils 520-Qubit Quantum Chip Nighthawk r3, Targeting 10,000 Operations

At a glance

IBM has announced plans for its next-generation quantum processor, Nighthawk r3. The chip uses 520 qubits (the basic units of quantum information) and aims to run 10,000 quantum operations accurately.

Key points

1. 1

   Of the chip's 2,034 physical qubits, 520 are designed for users to build their own quantum circuits.

2. 2

   Ten inter-chip connectors called L-couplers link multiple processors together.

3. 3

   IBM plans to build a 1,040-qubit system in 2027 by connecting two Nighthawk r3 processors.

4. 4

   IBM is also strengthening how quantum computers work together with classical computers such as supercomputers.

Why it matters

For quantum computers to be useful for real industrial problems, qubit counts and calculation accuracy must both improve. This announcement shows concrete goals in that direction.

Also reported by

• The Quantum InsiderIBM Plans 1,040-Qubit Quantum System with Next-Generation Nighthawk Processors
• Quantum Computing ReportIBM Unveils 520-Qubit Nighthawk r3 Processor, 1,040-Qubit Linked Roadmap, and Managed Hybrid Workflows at QDC 2026
• IBM Research press releasesIBM Quantum Nighthawk Demonstrates New Levels of Speed and Quality, with Plans to Scale Beyond 1,000 Qubits in 2027
• 전자신문IBM, 내년 1040큐비트 시스템 구축 추진…양자칩 두 개 연결
• 이데일리IBM, 내년 1040큐비트 시대 연다…양자컴 칩 2개 연결
• 인공지능신문IBM, 양자컴퓨터 연산 속도 최대 19배 향상…2027년 1,000큐비트 시대 연다
• 지디넷코리아IBM, 양자 프로세서 '나이트호크 r3' 공개…내년 1040큐비트 구축 추진
• 사이언스모니터IBM, 양자칩 ‘나이트호크 r3’ 공개…520큐비트로 연산 1만 회 겨냥, 2027년 1,040큐비트 시스템