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
This topic intends to contribute to address the following specific challenges that small UAS are prone to:
- Low UAS signatures and extended operational ranges;
- Operate autonomously and automatic, including with assisted piloting considerations;
- Miniaturisation of sensors and payloads, including potential weapons and communication systems;
- Operational capability and survivability in contested, congested and challenging (e.g., weather) airspace.
Detailed Call Description
Proposals must address the development of a small UAS with advanced ISTAR capabilities, such as real-time imagery intelligence, and possibly kinetic capabilities, capable of operating in support of the widest possible range of military operations.
In addition, proposals should address the development of a multi-role approach that explores compatibility between different payloads and configurations, in particular through an Interoperable Modular and Scalable Architecture (IMOSA) approach to allow interchangeability of components and interoperability between different solutions, including a “plug and play” capability for sensors and possible effectors.
As the small UAS cannot support sets of different sensors due to weight, space and power limitations, the possibility of standard interfaces should be explored to allow the selection and integration of a variety of specific sensors to be used in different configurations depending on the mission, and to facilitate the use in defence, civil and dual-use configurations.
In addition, proposals may also address the potential synergy for use by law enforcement and other governmental use.
Call Total Budget
Thematic Categories
- Justice - Security
- Other Thematic Category
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Legal Entities
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
Eligibility For Participation Notes
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 non-associated 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 – 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
Address: 172-174 Strovolos Avenue, 2048 Strovolos, Nicosia
Telephone: 22 807500
Email: defence@mod.gov.cy
Website: https://mod.gov.cy/
Department of Research and Innovation
Telephones: 22 807755, 22 807754
Email: research.innovation@mod.gov.cy
EU Contact Point
For help related to this call, please contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu