IBM Quantum Nighthawk R2 - More Circuits, Faster
IBM, Monday, August 31st, 2026
IBM's Nighthawk r2 quantum processor runs over 100,000 circuits per second, 25x the throughput of the Heron fleet.
IBM introduced Quantum Nighthawk r2, now available on the IBM Quantum Platform and described as the company's fastest quantum processor to date.
It carries 120 programmable qubits and a high-speed, independent qubit reset architecture that enables execution of more than 100,000 circuits per second - roughly 25 times the circuit throughput of IBM's current Heron fleet.
The processor has already demonstrated accurate observable estimation on circuits containing more than 7,500 gates, which IBM frames as hitting a major 2026 milestone on its roadmap. The release follows other 2026 advances including demonstrations of quantum advantage and a new modular architecture for cryogenic systems.