Airborne demonstration of a quantum key distribution receiver payload

Summary form only given. Demonstrations of quantum key distribution (QKD) [1] with moving platforms are important to prove the viability of future satellite implementations. Thus far these demonstrations of QKD to aircraft have operated exclusively in the downlink configuration [2, 3], where the quantum source and transmitter are placed on the airborne platform. While this approach has the potential for higher key rates, it is more complex and is not as flexible as an uplink configuration, which places the quantum receiver on the airborne platform [4]. Here we present the first successful demonstration of QKD to a receiver on a moving aircraft.