European Defence Fund: European Commission signs new series of grant agreements kickstarting R&D projects targeting strategic priorities for Defence Readiness 2030

Following its decision to award grants to 62 collaborative research and development projects under the 2024 edition of the European Defence Fund (EDF), the European Commission is now signing a series of new grant agreements with selected industrial consortia. 

The new series of projects that have now commenced demonstrate the collective endeavour of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base to ensure long-term security for Europe. 

Over 600 different legal entities from across the EU Member States and Norway will work together in the different projects. The consortia consist of many small and medium sized enterprises, universities, research institutions and large industries.  Total EU budget contribution to these projects comes close to €1 billion. 

The newly started projects target the priorities set out in the European Defence – Readiness 2030 agenda. The projects address critical capability gaps identified by EU Member States and focus on critical areas such as air and missile defence, drones and anti-drone systems, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and military mobility. 

The signature of the grant agreements marks the start of exemplary R&D projects enhancing Europe’s air and missile defence capabilities, such as: 

• BEAST, which aims to develop cutting-edge technologies to detect, track, and neutralize aerial threats, thereby significantly strengthening the EU’s integrated air and missile defence systems;
• GARUDA, that will develop next-generation air combat systems incorporating innovative solutions to enhance both offensive and defensive air capabilities, contributing to comprehensive missile defence readiness.

Also, projects have been kicked off that support the development of a European Drone Defence like:

• Small UAS, focusing on the development of compact unmanned aerial systems for rapid tactical deployment;
• VANTAGE, which will be able to perform various command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) tasks as well as kinetic strikes.

A full overview of EDF categories covered by the 62 projects is available here: Result of the EDF 2024 Calls for Proposals