Aircraft propulsion and energy management systems

The EDF-2025-DA grant focuses on developing advanced aircraft propulsion and energy management systems within the defense sector. Its goal is to advance technologies that enhance efficiency and adaptability in military applications, particularly emphasizing modular and flexible configurations for next-generation fighter aircraft, including integration with manned and unmanned systems. Eligible applicants include consortia of at least three independent entities from EU Member States or Norway, comprising large industrial groups, SMEs, and research institutions. The application process is an open call with a single-stage submission approach, with a deadline of October 16, 2025. Funding is through actual cost grants with an indicative budget of €49 million allocated specifically for this topic. Activities under this grant must include studies, design, system prototyping, and testing, which are considered mandatory. Eligible activities aim to improve energy and thermal efficiency, integrate new fuel types, and develop advanced component technologies. The project stage focuses on development and validation, with an emphasis on achieving higher Technology Readiness Levels. While the exact success rates are not specified, collaboration is strongly encouraged to enhance cross-border efforts in defense technology. The grant also hints at potential co-funding requirements, which are common in EDF initiatives, although the exact parameters are not detailed. Overall, this funding opportunity aims to bolster EU technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy in air power while promoting collaboration across various sectors to meet contemporary defense challenges.

This is a call for proposals under the European Defence Fund (EDF) for development actions related to aircraft propulsion and energy management systems. The call, titled EDF-2025-DA, seeks to develop and mature advanced technologies for propulsion, power, and thermal management in fighter aircraft. These technologies should be modular, flexible, and applicable to various system sizes within a System-of-Systems (SoS) configuration, including manned and unmanned systems, drone swarms, and auxiliary platforms.

The call aims to facilitate the introduction of new aerial propulsion and energy integrated systems technologies by reducing evaluation time and cost, develop the EU's autonomous industrial sector, enhance cross-border collaboration, contribute to EU technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy, improve EU air power, and guarantee EU aerial superiority.

The specific objective is to develop a suite of advanced technologies for aircraft fighter propulsion, power, and thermal management systems, considering: understanding the potential of new aircraft configurations with advanced propulsion technologies, developing innovative solutions for propulsion systems and interconnected components, and increasing energy efficiency and effectiveness.

The scope of the proposals should include:providing a validated suite of advanced technologies for propulsion and energy systems within a SoS configuration, performing studies to explore integration challenges in different platform sizes with a focus on Unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (UCCA), improving energy and thermal efficiency, and potentially addressing the joint development and evaluation of technologies on a test vehicle.

Eligible activities include studies (mandatory), design (mandatory), system prototyping (mandatory), testing (mandatory), and activities that increase interoperability and resilience (optional), qualification (optional), certification (optional), and development of technologies increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies (optional). Activities that aim to create, underpin and improve knowledge, products and technologies, including disruptive technologies, which can achieve significant effects in the area of defence (generating knowledge) are not eligible.

Mandatory activities include:

Studies:System studies to explore the integration effectiveness of power and propulsion technologies into airborne platforms, focusing on UCCA. These studies must cover platform requirements trade-offs, propulsion and energy systems sizing, engine integration, and improved electronic engine control and monitoring systems.

Design:Maturation of technologies and knowledge towards higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), including design of simulation tools, test means, high-temperature lightweight materials, thermal management systems, electrical systems, advanced cooling and manufacturing technologies, combustion technologies, and advanced engine architectures.

System prototyping:Building a modular prototype/system test bed, creating samples of new materials, and prototyping specific components.

Testing:Using test beds to evaluate energy efficiency, environmental impact, new materials, component prototypes, and new fuel types.

Additional tasks include increasing efficiency through low-cost lifecycle cost technologies, integrated lifecycle services, integration of electrical motor/generator on engine spool(s), and variable flow engines.

Proposals must substantiate synergies and complementarity with foreseen, ongoing or completed activities in the field of highly efficient propulsion and energy systems for next generation air combat and unmanned collaborative combat aircraft systems notably those described in the call topic EDF-2021-ENERENV-D-PES on Alternative propulsion and energy systems for next generation air combat systems.

The proposed products and technologies should meet functional requirements such as:flexible propulsion system design, integrated power and propulsion solutions, trade-offs of alternative solutions, analysis of potential gains and risks, technologies to minimize lifecycle cost, sustainability, efficient energy management systems, and improved engine systems.

The call is a single-stage submission process. The opening date is 18 February 2025, and the deadline is 16 October 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The call provides budget information for various EDF Development Actions, including:

EDF-2025-DA-AIR-CAC:€49,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-AIR-EPE:€54,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-CYBER-CDOC-STEP:€34,000,000

EDF-2025-DA:€49,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-GROUND-FM2LP:€79,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-GROUND-LCC-STEP:€44,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-NAVAL-DSNCC-STEP:€54,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-PROTMOB-SS:€35,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-SENS-IRD-STEP:€29,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-SENS-MB4DR-STEP:€29,500,000

EDF-2025-DA-SPACE-SBISR:€66,000,000

EDF-2025-DA-UWW-AUWN-STEP:€25,000,000

There are partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic.

The call provides links to various documents, including the call document, application form templates, model grant agreements, and additional documents related to EDF regulations, security instructions, financial regulations, and guidelines.

In summary, this European Defence Fund call seeks to advance propulsion, power, and thermal management technologies for next-generation fighter aircraft, emphasizing modularity, flexibility, energy efficiency, and integration within a System-of-Systems framework. It encourages collaboration between industry, SMEs, and academia to enhance EU technological sovereignty and air power. The call requires a combination of studies, design, prototyping, and testing activities, with a focus on unmanned collaborative combat aircraft and sustainable aviation practices.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types include large industrial groups, SMEs, and academia. The call specifically encourages cross-border collaboration between these entities. While not explicitly stated, it is implied that eligible applicants must be legal entities (public or private bodies) established in one of the EDF eligible countries.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically "Development actions implemented via actual cost grants (EDF-2025-DA)" and "EDF-DA EDF Development Actions" and "EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]".

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The call emphasizes cross-border collaboration and mentions the need for large industrial groups, SMEs, and academia to work together.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility extends to EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries.

Target Sector:The program targets the defense sector, specifically focusing on the development and maturation of advanced technologies for propulsion, power, and thermal management systems for fighter aircraft. It also touches on energy, environment, and cybersecurity as related to defense applications.

Mentioned Countries:The text explicitly mentions EU Member States and Norway. It also refers to EDF Associated Countries.

Project Stage:The expected maturity of the project ranges from studies and design to system prototyping, testing, qualification, and development of technologies, indicating a focus on development, validation, and demonstration stages, with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) maturation objective.

Funding Amount:The funding range is variable, with specific topics having budgets ranging from €25,000,000 to €79,000,000. For the specific call EDF-2025-DA, the budget is €49,000,000.

Application Type:The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support their projects.

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates:The indicative number of grants is not specified, making it difficult to assess the success rate.

Co-funding Requirement:The presence of a "Cofinancing declaration (EDF DA, DA LS AND ASAP)" suggests that co-funding from the applicant or other parties may be required.

Summary:

This European Defence Fund (EDF) call, specifically EDF-2025-DA, focuses on "Aircraft propulsion and energy management systems." It aims to foster the development and maturation of advanced technologies for propulsion, power, and thermal management systems in fighter aircraft. The goal is to create modular and flexible systems that can operate within a System-of-Systems (SoS) configuration, integrating manned and unmanned systems, drone swarms, and auxiliary platforms.

The call emphasizes the need for EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries to adapt to the evolving military landscape by integrating various elements in a multidomain environment. It targets the 6th generation of fighter aircraft, envisioning a shift from platform-oriented designs to SoS configurations.

Eligible activities include feasibility studies, design, system prototyping, testing, qualification, and development of technologies that increase efficiency across the life cycle of defense products. Proposals must cover system studies, technology maturation, and synergies with existing projects.

The call seeks to improve energy and thermal efficiency, reduce the ecological footprint, and enhance cross-border collaboration between large industrial groups, SMEs, and academia. It also aims to bolster EU technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy in air power.

The funding is provided through EDF Development Actions grants, with a budget of €49,000,000 for the EDF-2025-DA topic. The application process is a single-stage open call, with a deadline of October 16, 2025. Consortia of applicants from EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries are required, encouraging participation from large industrial groups, SMEs, and academia.