Rigetti Computing Shares Jump Following Air Force Deal

The quantum firm saw its stock rise 49 percent this week after securing a new federal contract and reporting technical gains.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Quantum Computing

Isometric editorial illustration of a gold-plated circular quantum processor chip integrated onto a complex circuit board assembly. — Rigetti Computing shares gained 49 percent this week after the company secured a $5.8 million Air Force quantum research contract. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Rigetti Computing shares climbed 49 percent during the week ending October 25, 2026, following the announcement of a $5.8 million contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory. The surge was further bolstered by positive technical benchmarks and industry momentum following IonQ's strong earnings results.

Why it matters

The company's new contract and performance data demonstrate growing practical utility for its modular quantum systems. Investor confidence also rose due to the firm's stable balance sheet and broader market sympathy for the quantum computing sector.

Rigetti reports $575 million in total cash and cash equivalents with no debt. IonQ, meanwhile, raised its 2026 revenue guidance to a range between $280 million and $290 million following a year of growth.

The players

Rigetti Computing

Based in Berkeley, this company specializes in developing quantum integrated circuits and modular quantum processing systems.

Air Force Research Laboratory

This military organization conducts research and development for the United States Air Force and Space Force.

IonQ

This publicly traded quantum computing company recently reported financial results that exceeded analyst revenue expectations.

The details

Rigetti secured a five-year agreement to provide quantum foundry services, integrated circuits, and cryogenic microwave components to the Air Force. Additionally, the company reported that its 36-qubit modular system, composed of four 9-qubit chiplets, achieved a median two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.5 percent.

Rigetti began disclosing a cluster of development milestones during the summer of 2026.
The Air Force Research Laboratory contract was officially disclosed on October 21, 2026.
Rigetti Computing shares recorded a 49 percent increase during the trading week ending October 25, 2026.

Market Landscape

This deal follows a pattern set by the Air Force Research Laboratory's quantum development mandate, which prioritizes the scaling of gate-based hardware. It positions Rigetti to compete more effectively for federal research and defense infrastructure budgets against rival quantum firms.

While the stock move affects investors, the Air Force contract signals long-term stability for the firm's R&D capabilities. Customers and partners can anticipate continued development of quantum foundry services as Rigetti scales its modular hardware systems.

The takeaway

The recent market activity highlights how government contracts provide a critical validation signal for emerging deep-tech firms. Investors should monitor how these federal partnerships translate into sustained revenue growth as modular systems move toward production readiness.