Demonstrators and technologies to defeat threats posed by Unexploded Explosives Ordnances (UXO) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED)
Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The European Defence Fund (EDF) is the Commission’s initiative to support collaborative defence research and development, and to foster an innovative and competitive defence industrial base.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The main objective of this topic is to prepare a next generation of explosive hazards countermeasures (equipment, materials, etc.) using innovative technologies.
This research topic aims at developing technologies to defeat the threats posed by explosive ordnance (UXO and/or IED), in complex and diverse environments within the military domain.
Detailed Call Description
Perform the following functional tasks:
- threat detection (including identification, classification and data fusion) – Rapid and improved (e.g. remote or stand-off) detection of buried or hidden UXO/IED, including threat identification and classification, including area monitoring for the presence of explosive threats. Sensor fusion to achieve a more reliable output is considered under this topic, as well as the use of UAV/UGV for remote detection;
- threat investigation – Following the UXO/IED first alert, obtained either by means of device/explosive detection or from a suspicious behaviour/event, the confirmation of it being a real or false alarm may be necessary. Technologies for threat investigation operations are considered in this topic (e.g. land digging by specialised UGV);
- neutralisation and disposal;
- decoying;
- electronic counter measures;
- breaching.
This topic will contribute to studies aiming at maturing innovative technologies in order to overcome current and new threats (UXOs and/or IEDs).
The proposals must focus on the research of new technologies and adaptations of existing technologies addressing the above-mentioned counter-IED/UXO functional tasks, including (but not limited to) the following technologies:
- threat detection: visible/infrared (IR) imagery, laser, integration of electro-optical (EO)/IR passive (including hyper/multispectral) and active (LIDAR) sensors, integration of non-linear junction detection, wire detection, change detection, radar (GPR, SAR), terahertz imager, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, IMS, DMS, LIF, gamma detection, fluorescent nanoparticles, etc.;
- threats investigation: camera, laser, tools;
- neutralisation and disposal: high-energy weapons (laser beams), high-power electromagnetic (HPEM) beams, chemical desensitisation of explosive materials, among others;
- decoying: mass, mechanical, magnetic, heat (IR);
- ECM: evolutions for ECM systems (innovative antennas, e.g. planar, ability to characterise signal in order to avoid interference to friendly Electronic systems including friendly ECM systems…);
- breaching: evolutions for tools, energetic materials and machinery (hand, mechanical or explosive or combination of those) to create safe passage through obstacle (landmines, minefields).
Call Total Budget
Thematic Categories
- Energy
- Justice - Security
- Other Thematic Category
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Applications will only be considered eligible if their content corresponds wholly (or at least in part) to the topic description for which it is submitted.
In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies)
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
- non-EU countries:
- listed EEA countries (‘EDF associated countries’, see list of participating countries)
- have their executive management structure established in eligible countries
- must not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or nonassociated third-country entity (unless they can provide guarantees – see Annex 2 – approved by the Member State or EDF associated country where they are established).
Consortium composition – For all topics under this call, including EDF-2023-RA-DIS-LDEW, proposals must be submitted by:
minimum 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Ministry of Defense
172-174 Strovolos Avenue, 2048 Strovolos, Nicosia,
website: https://mod.gov.cy/
Telephone: 22 807500
Email: defence@mod.gov.cy
Department of Research and Innovation
Phones: 22 807755, 22 807754
Email: research.innovation@mod.gov.cy
EU Contact Point
European Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS): https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/defence-industry-and-space_en
For help related to this call, please contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu