Ammunition Waste Collection and Disposal Unmanned Platform

Overview

Ammunition Waste Collection and Disposal Unmanned Platform EDF-2026-DA is a European Defence Fund development action funding the design, prototyping, testing, qualification and certification of a semi-autonomous remote management system with UAV and UGV platforms for detection, render-safe, recovery, sorting and transport of ammunition residues (excluding mines and IEDs). The topic has an indicative budget of €10,000,000, a single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, opening 11 February 2026 and closing 29 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Multi-beneficiary consortia are mandatory, with beneficiaries established in EU Member States or EDF-associated Norway and harmonisation declarations and Member State procurement intent required for design and prototyping activities. Funding is an actual-cost grant with activity-specific reimbursement rates and possible bonuses for SMEs, mid-caps and PESCO participation, and allows cascade funding for operational testing within set ceilings.

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Highlights

Ammunition Waste Collection and Disposal Unmanned Platform — Opportunity Snapshot

What the call funds

Scope in one line

Development of a prototype semi‑autonomous remote management system plus adaptive unmanned hardware (air and ground) that learns to detect, identify, neutralise or remove ammunition waste and residues from training areas and battlefields, with system testing, qualification and certification up to high TRL.

Funding and timing:Indicative topic budget €10,000,000. Single‑stage call opening 11 Feb 2026 — deadline 29 Sep 2026 17:00 Brussels time 1.

  1. 1Who can apply: consortia of legal entities established in EDF‑eligible countries (multi‑beneficiary mandatory; see call for exact eligible country list).
  2. 2Eligible activities: studies, design, system prototyping, testing, qualification and certification (FSTP allowed within ceilings).
  3. 3Expected outcome: deployable prototype demonstrator (air + ground platforms), command/control system, sensor fusion and AI for detection, safe render‑safe methods and transport modules.
  4. 4Security and eligibility: EDF security rules apply; access to classified information may be required and facility/personnel clearances (FSC/PSC) may be relevant for some tasks.
  5. 5Costs & format: development actions funded via actual cost grants; equipment reimbursement rules and specific budget rules set in call documents.
Call identifierEDF-2026-DA
ProgrammeEuropean Defence Fund — Development actions (EDF-2026-DA)
Indicative budget for topic€10,000,000
Deadline (Brussels time)29 September 2026, 17:00

High‑level eligibility notes: beneficiaries, affiliated entities and subcontractors must be established in EDF eligible countries; third‑country participation is possible under strict conditions (no EDF reimbursement for non‑eligible locations); consortium and administrative templates (application form, co‑financing, ownership declarations, security-related templates) must be provided as required in the call documents 1.

Footnotes

  1. 1Full call text, conditions, templates, security instructions and submission entry are on the Funding & Tenders Portal: EDF-2026-DA topic page Call Topic.

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Breakdown

Ammunition Waste Collection and Disposal Unmanned Platform — EDF-2026-DA-ENERENV-AWC-STEP

This European Defence Fund Development Action aims to design, prototype, test, qualify and certify a semi-autonomous, self-learning unmanned platform and remote management system for the detection, identification, safe recovery, transport, and pre-recycling preparation of ammunition waste and residues in training areas and battlefields. It reduces risks to personnel, accelerates environmental restoration, and aligns with the Green Military concept while contributing to STEP clean and resource-efficient technologies. The topic is open as a single-stage grant call with an indicative EU contribution of €10,000,000 and expects a high-TRL demonstrator capable of operating in realistic scenarios, including optional operational testing supported through cascade funding.

CallEDF-2026-DA — Development actions implemented via actual cost grants
Topic IDEDF-2026-DA
ProgrammeEuropean Defence Fund (EDF)
Type of actionEDF-DA — Development Actions
Model Grant AgreementEDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]
Opening date11 February 2026
Deadline29 September 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time
Deadline modelSingle-stage
Indicative topic budget€10,000,000
Indicative number of grants1 (more possible subject to quality and budget)
Submission portalEU Funding & Tenders Portal

Scope, Activities, and Technical Requirements

The action will deliver a high-maturity prototype of an autonomous or semi-autonomous system that combines a scalable Command, Control and Information System (C2IS) with unmanned aerial and ground platforms. The system will use advanced sensors, sensor fusion, AI-driven assisted learning, and robust tools to detect, classify, identify, safely uncover, collect, sort, transport and prepare ammunition residues for recycling. Mines and IEDs are out of scope.

  • Mandatory activity coverage: studies, design, system prototyping, testing, qualification, and certification. Integrating knowledge and lifecycle efficiency activities are optional.
  • Expected TRL: develop to high TRL (for example TRL 6 to TRL 8), demonstrating in representative and real environments.
  • Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP, cascade funding): allowed within set ceilings; to support operational testing in real scenarios, possibly with support from Ukraine.
  • Multi-beneficiary applications: mandatory; specific consortium composition conditions apply under EDF section 6.

Detailed tasks — Studies (mandatory):• Scenario and threat analysis using battlefield evidence, including the Ukraine conflict; ammunition types and dud behavior; detonation effects; spatial distribution; costs; environmental footprint. • Lifecycle assessment, demilitarisation and recycling pathways covering representative ammunition (including artillery); energy use, materials availability, cost, and footprint reduction. • Environmental impacts of UXO and residues. • State-of-the-art review of surface and subsurface detection, classification and identification, including sensor fusion and AI methods. • Feasibility study for autonomous explosive ordnance disposal and render-safe procedures, including fuse removal concepts and damage potentials. • Architecture of a remote management system for planning, operations, training and AI learning based on open standards and existing communication solutions.

Detailed tasks — Design (mandatory):• Scalable C2IS for planning, operations, training and algorithm learning, supporting multiple UxV control and open standards. • Algorithms for multi-sensor fusion and AI with assisted learning to enhance detection, classification and identification. • UAV payload integration for surface and sub-surface target mapping. • UGV design for autonomous and assisted navigation; multi-sensor payloads; safe recovery tools for surface and buried items; autonomous accident repair or recovery; balanced blast protection; low lifecycle footprint. • Tools or modules for render-safe of artillery grenades and similar munitions to enable safe transport. • Sorting and transport modules to segregate waste streams.

Detailed tasks — System prototyping (mandatory):• C2IS prototype implementing designed AI and sensor fusion. • Adapted UAV with integrated payload suite for surface and subsurface detection and mapping. • UGV prototype with autonomous navigation, multi-sensor detection and identification, tools for recovery of buried artillery grenades to €2 Mdepth, autonomous accident repair capability, modular protection, and sustainability-by-design. • Render-safe tool module, including fuse separation or alternative risk reduction. • Sorting and transport prototype preventing sympathetic detonation and minimizing route risk.

Detailed tasks — Testing (mandatory):• Test strategy and plans. • Subsystem tests: technical sub-systems; autonomous recovery of buried grenades; render-safe module; transport solution; selected detonation trials for robustness and repairability. • Full system demonstration in a prepared scenario with time, resources, training, and personnel metrics. • Operational testing in real environments with operational personnel; where possible, implement via FSTP.

Detailed tasks — Qualification and Certification (mandatory):• Qualification: ensure prototypes meet specific defence requirements for crisis and war scenarios. • Certification: identify and assess national or NATO regulations for clearing operations in military and civilian areas; assess relevant international humanitarian law provisions; propose improvements. • Propose concepts of operation and rules of engagement for remote and autonomous use.

Functional requirements — system-level:• Combine human operators with remote and autonomous UxV operations; leverage sensor and information fusion; include self-learning to improve safety and performance. • Autonomous UAV area flight with multi-sensor payloads to detect surface and subsurface objects and infer ground signatures. • Autonomous UGV navigation to target positions along optimal patterns in open and agricultural terrain; request operator aid in challenging conditions; maintain robust long-range command, data and image links. • Classification, collection and sorting of surface objects for safe transport; detect hazardous or toxic substances where relevant. • Autonomous uncovering and recovery of artillery grenades down to €2 Mdepth, render-safe, and safe preparation for transport. • Blast survivability and self-repair capability for the UGV; modularity for serviceability. • Safe transport to collection sites preventing sympathetic detonation and minimizing third-party risk. • C2IS integrates observations from military search personnel, intelligence, and the public; supports expert safety guidance and learning workflows. • Open architectures, modular hardware and software, standards-based interfaces. • Low energy and resource consumption, minimized environmental impact, transportability by air and road, and operation in realistic climatic conditions (temperature, rain, wind, dust).

  • Out of scope: mines and IEDs; development of new standalone sensor systems duplicating other initiatives; industrial-scale recycling processes post-collection.
  • Synergies to be demonstrated with EDF-2022-LS-RA-CHALLENGE-DIGIT-HTDP, EDF-2023-DA-UWW-MCMC, EDF-2023-RA-PROTMOB-DEXPLO, and EDF-2024-DA-GROUND-UGS-STEP.

Who Can Apply and How Funding Works

Eligible Applicant Types:SMEs and mid-caps, large enterprises, industrial primes, system integrators, technology developers, robotics and AI companies, sensor OEMs, software firms, test and certification bodies, universities, research and technology organisations, nonprofit research entities, and public or semi-public defence research bodies. Military end users and public authorities may participate as beneficiaries where national eligibility allows. Subcontractors and associated partners may be included under EDF rules. All entities must meet EDF ownership and control requirements.

Funding Type:Grant (actual cost, budget-based). Baseline funding rates by activity: 90 percent studies; 65 percent design; 20 percent prototyping; 45 percent testing; 70 percent qualification; 70 percent certification; 65 percent lifecycle efficiency. Bonuses may increase rates up to stated caps: PESCO bonus 10 percentage points; SME and mid-cap bonuses as per proportions and cross-border participation, with caps up to 100 percent for some activities and up to 80 percent for testing, qualification and certification, and up to 55 percent for prototyping. The detailed calculator is provided in the Detailed Budget Table and Annex 2e of the Grant Agreement for Development Actions.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory. Under the EDF Regulation and section 6 of the call document, consortia typically include independent legal entities from multiple eligible countries and must comply with eligibility, ownership, and security requirements. The topic explicitly requires multi-beneficiary participation and specific composition conditions.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Established in EU Member States or the EDF associated country Norway, with executive management in the EU or Norway. Ownership and control restrictions apply; non-EU controlled entities may participate only under national guarantees compliant with Article 9(4) of the EDF Regulation and Commission approval. Entities from non-associated third countries may only participate as associated partners under strict conditions and without EDF funding. Equipment used must be located in the EU or Norway for the project duration. Ukrainian entities cannot be beneficiaries, affiliated entities or subcontractors involved in EDF projects, but may be associated partners under strict conditions; FSTP-supported trials may be carried out with support from Ukraine.

Target Sector:Defence systems and unmanned platforms; robotics and autonomous systems; artificial intelligence and sensor fusion; explosive ordnance disposal and render-safe; environmental remediation and green military operations; logistics of hazardous materials; standards and certification; STEP clean and resource-efficient technologies.

Mentioned Countries:European Union Member States, Norway, Ukraine (as a potential location for operational trials supported via cascade funding and as a contextual reference for scenario analyses).

Project Stage:Advanced development leading to high-TRL demonstrators with validation, qualification and steps towards certification. The project spans studies, design, prototyping, testing, qualification and certification.

Funding Amount:Indicative EU budget for the topic is €10,000,000 under EDF-2026-DA. One proposal is expected to be funded, with the possibility of more depending on quality and available budget. The overall EDF-2026-DA multi-topic envelope is €422,000,000.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants select EDF-DA and the EDF-AG model and submit Part A forms online and Part B plus annexes as a single password-protected archive as per call instructions.

Nature of Support:Financial support as an EU grant. Additional non-monetary support includes EDF business coaching available to successful SME beneficiaries.

Application Stages:Single stage. Following submission, proposals undergo evaluation against admissibility, eligibility, award criteria, security scrutiny as needed, and then grant agreement preparation.

Success Rates:Not specified for this topic. The topic expects to fund one proposal, with potential to fund more subject to quality and budget, but no numerical success rates are published.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes, for activities whose funding rates are below 100 percent (e.g., prototyping baseline 20 percent, testing 45 percent). Co-financing declarations are mandatory at submission and must detail the form, timeline, and expected IPR-related returns for co-financers. SME, mid-cap, and PESCO bonuses can increase EU rates within the caps. A Detailed Budget Table calculates per-activity rates and co-financing needs.

Mandatory Compliance and Security Conditions

  • Participants must pass financial and operational capacity checks and be free from exclusion grounds.
  • Security and confidentiality: compliance with the EDF Programme Security Instruction and EUCI handling where applicable. For this topic, projects must be ready to undergo security scrutiny. Classified information handling follows Commission Decision 2015/444.
  • Ownership and control: submit Ownership Control Declarations and, where needed, Ownership Control Guarantees approved by competent national authorities.
  • Geographic location and security of supply: use of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources located in eligible countries, with strict conditions and ineligibility of non-eligible locations for reimbursement.
  • Ethics and values: highest ethical standards and compliance with EU, international and national law, including environmental and safety regulations relevant to EOD and transport of hazardous materials.
  • Subcontracting: limited proportion of total costs unless otherwise specified; core tasks not to be subcontracted; subcontractors cannot lead work packages.
  • Associated partners cannot lead work packages; they may contribute without claiming costs.

Application Templates and File Structure

Applicants must use the EDF application templates available in the Submission System. Part A is populated online; Part B and annexes are uploaded as a single password-protected ZIP, following format rules in the call document.

Core templates and annexes:• Standard application form (EDF) Part A in the Portal. • Part B Technical Description template covering excellence, innovation, competitiveness, EDTIB autonomy, cross-border cooperation, lifecycle efficiency, Member State cooperation, work plan, risk and financial management, communication and security declarations. • Detailed budget table (EDF DA) with complex funding rate calculator for Development Actions. • Participant Information form listing legal, ownership, management, key staff, previous projects, and affiliated or associated partners. • List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources with precise locations and facility security clearances where relevant. • Co-financing declaration template per co-financer, with financial commitment, indicative availability date, process and timeline, and expected IPR-related returns. • Actual indirect cost methodology declaration, to use actual indirects instead of the 25 percent flat rate, co-signed by national pricing authorities; includes detailed cost elements, apportionment bases, adjustments, and comparable national projects. • Harmonised defence capability requirements declaration for design activities, signed by competent Member State authorities, confirming harmonised requirements jointly agreed with at least one other Member State or Norway. • Declaration on procurement intent and common technical specifications for prototyping, testing, qualification or certification activities, signed by at least two supporting authorities intending coordinated procurement or use, including common specifications. • Ownership control declaration and, where applicable, ownership control guarantee with national authority approval. • PRS declaration (only if Galileo PRS access is needed; likely not applicable to this topic unless GNSS-secured functions are included). • Model Grant Agreements and Annotated Grant Agreement for reference. • Programme Security Instruction package for projects involving classified information.

Formatting and submission highlights:• Respect page limits and layout rules stated in the call document and Part B template. • Part B and annexes must be uploaded as a single password-protected ZIP using AES-256 encryption and the naming conventions indicated. • The PRC and SME or mid-cap self-assessment statuses in the Participant Register must be up to date to qualify for bonuses. • Part B must be provided in line with EDF-specific instructions even if portal messages differ.

Evaluation and Award

  • Admissibility and eligibility checks as per sections 5 and 6 of the call document.
  • Award criteria, scoring, thresholds per section 9: covering excellence and disruption potential, innovation and technological development, competitiveness, EDTIB autonomy and security of supply, cross-border cooperation including SME and mid-cap participation, lifecycle efficiency, Member State cooperation, quality and efficiency of implementation including co-financing readiness.
  • Indicative timeline per section 4; single call deadline with evaluation and Grant Agreement Preparation phases.
  • Security scrutiny and classification determinations may apply post-evaluation before grant signature.
  • Business coaching offered to SME beneficiaries post-award.

Financial and Cost Eligibility Highlights

  • Actual cost grant with activity-specific funding rates and possible bonuses. FSTP to third parties is 100 percent funded but organisation costs are reimbursed at standard rates.
  • Personnel costs calculated via daily rates; average personnel costs accepted if compliant with usual practices and national acceptance. SME owner and natural person beneficiary unit costs possible.
  • Equipment: depreciation as default; for this topic, depreciation and full cost for listed equipment may apply as specified in the call and Grant Agreement Annex 2e.
  • Subcontracting must follow best value and no conflict of interest; certain tasks cannot be subcontracted; subcontractors cannot lead work packages.
  • Indirect costs: 25 percent flat-rate of eligible direct costs except volunteers, subcontracting, FSTP, and exempted categories; or actual indirects with national authority acceptance.
  • Country restrictions: work must occur in eligible countries; use of non-eligible locations requires prior justification, is non-reimbursable and subject to strict conditions.
  • VAT deductible or refundable is ineligible; equipment located in EU or Norway for the project duration; third country subsidiaries’ work is ineligible.

Support, Q&A and Partner Search

Applicants can use the participant register and partner search on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. National Focal Points in EU Member States and Norway can guide consortium-building and national conditions. For call-specific queries, contact the EDF proposals mailbox. IT Helpdesk supports access rights, roles and submission issues. The Online Manual and Annotated Grant Agreement provide detailed process and eligibility guidance.

Why This Opportunity Matters

The project will fill a critical capability gap at the nexus of environmental remediation and operational readiness. By deploying scalable C2IS and cooperative UxV swarms with AI-assisted learning, it will reduce post-conflict hazards, shorten time to restore training areas and civilian lands, and lower ecological footprints. It will set standards for autonomous render-safe workflows, qualification and certification frameworks, and open architectures enabling growth and upgrades. It promotes EU strategic autonomy, strengthens the defence industrial base across borders with high participation potential for SMEs and mid-caps, and contributes to STEP by advancing clean and resource-efficient technologies in defence operations.

Answers to the Categorisation Questions

Eligible Applicant Types:SME, mid-cap, large enterprise, university, research institute, nonprofit research body, public research organisation, defense ministry research units where eligible, standards and certification bodies, and technology integrators. Subcontractors and associated partners may include specialist service providers and NGOs with technical roles under EDF rules. All must satisfy EDF establishment, executive management location, and ownership and control requirements.

Funding Type:Grant (actual costs). Activity-specific funding rates with bonuses for PESCO, SMEs and mid-caps within caps. Cascade funding to third parties is allowed and 100 percent funded for the third parties.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory with specific composition rules under EDF section 6. Typically independent legal entities from different eligible countries are required.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and Norway. Executive management structure must be in EU or Norway. Third-country controlled entities require approved guarantees. Third-country entities may participate as associated partners only under strict conditions and without EDF funding.

Target Sector:Defence, unmanned systems and robotics, AI and sensor fusion, environmental remediation of military residues, EOD render-safe technologies, standards and certification for autonomous systems, STEP clean and resource-efficient technologies.

Mentioned Countries:EU (region), Norway, Ukraine.

Project Stage:Development, validation, demonstration, qualification, certification. High TRL outputs expected.

Funding Amount:Topic indicative budget €10,000,000; overall EDF-2026-DA envelope €422,000,000 across topics.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage, via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with online Part A and uploaded password-protected Part B and annexes.

Nature of Support:Money (grant). Non-monetary SME business coaching post-award.

Application Stages:1 stage: submission, evaluation, and grant agreement preparation.

Success Rates:Not published for this topic. The topic plans to fund one proposal, potentially more depending on quality and budget.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Co-financing is required where EU funding rates are below 100 percent. A co-financing declaration is mandatory at submission. Bonuses can increase EU rates but remain capped per activity.

Key Links

Summary

This EDF Development Action funds a multinational consortium to deliver a high-TRL, semi-autonomous unmanned platform and remote C2 system that detects, classifies, identifies, renders-safe, collects, sorts and transports ammunition residues for recycling, reducing human exposure and environmental impact. The project integrates UAV and UGV platforms with multi-sensor payloads, AI-assisted learning and robust render-safe and transport modules. It requires a complete chain from studies through design, prototyping, testing, qualification and certification, with strong emphasis on open architectures, modularity, environmental performance and safety. The grant uses activity-specific funding rates with bonuses for SMEs, mid-caps and PESCO participation and allows cascade funding to support real-environment demonstrations. Eligible applicants are EU and Norway-based entities that meet EDF ownership and control rules, applying via a single-stage submission to the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The effort strengthens European strategic autonomy, accelerates environmental restoration post-operations, advances robotics and AI in defence, and supports STEP clean and resource-efficient technology objectives.

Footnotes

  1. 1Full call conditions, eligibility, evaluation criteria, funding rates and templates are defined in the EDF-2026-DA call document and the specific topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. See Call document EDF-2026-DA and EDF-2026-DA-ENERENV-AWC-STEP.

Short Summary

Impact

Deliver a high‑TRL semi‑autonomous unmanned system and remote C2IS that safely detects, render‑safes, collects and prepares ammunition waste for recycling, reducing human casualties and environmental impact while supporting green military objectives.

Applicant

Teams with proven capabilities in robotics (UAV/UGV), sensor fusion, AI/assisted learning, explosive ordnance disposal/render‑safe engineering, C2IS design, testing/qualification and lifecycle/environmental assessment are required.

Developments

Development, prototyping, testing, qualification and certification of energy‑efficient, modular UAVs and UGVs, sensor suites and fusion algorithms, render‑safe and sorting/transport modules, plus an open‑architecture C2IS and associated studies (LCA, regulatory, scenario analysis).

Applicant Type

profit SMEs/startups, large corporations, researchers (universities and RTOs), government organisations (public defence research bodies) and NGOs/non‑profits with relevant technical roles.

Consortium

Multi‑beneficiary consortia are mandatory — at least three independent legal entities established in three different EU Member States or EDF‑associated countries (Norway).

Funding Amount

Indicative EU contribution for the topic is €10,000,000 (one proposal expected to be funded, with possible additional awards depending on quality and budget).

Countries

Eligible participants must be established in EU Member States or Norway; Ukraine is explicitly relevant as a potential location for operational trials via FSTP, and the UK is generally ineligible without derogation.

Industry

European Defence Fund (EDF) — Development Actions, contributing to STEP objectives for clean and resource‑efficient technologies in the defence/unmanned systems sector.

Additional Web Data

Ammunition Waste Collection and Disposal Unmanned Platform - EDF-2026-DA-ENERENV-AWC-STEP

Opportunity Overview

This call topic under the European Defence Fund (EDF) Development Actions implemented via actual cost grants seeks to develop a prototype of a semi-autonomous remote management system integrated with adaptive hardware for detecting and disposing of ammunition waste and residues from military training areas and battlefields. The system aims to reduce human risk, support environmental cleanup and align with the green military concept. It contributes to STEP objectives in clean and resource-efficient technologies. Targeted activities include studies, design, system prototyping, testing, qualification and certification. Indicative budget is €10 million with one proposal expected to be funded, though more may be selected based on quality and available budget.

Key Dates:Opening date: 11 February 2026. Deadline: 29 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission.

Objectives and Scope

The primary objective is to create a self-learning, scalable system for detecting, identifying, destroying or removing, transporting and preparing for recycling ammunition residues such as inert casings, motors, crashed drones, duds, explosive residues and buried UXOs (up to €2Mdepth, excluding mines and IEDs). The system includes a remote management system, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for mapping, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) for recovery and sorting, with sensor fusion, AI algorithms and swarming capabilities. Proposals must focus on energy-efficient, self-repairable platforms reaching high TRL (6-8), bridging civil-military dual-use technologies.

Mandatory Activities

  • Studies: Scenario/threat analysis (including Ukraine experience), life cycle assessment, environmental impact, state-of-the-art sensors/AI, feasibility of autonomous EOD/render-safe procedures, remote management architecture.
  • Design: Scalable C2IS, sensor fusion/AI algorithms, adapted UAV/UGV systems, render-safe tools, sorting/transport modules.
  • System prototyping: C2IS, UAV/UGV prototypes, render-safe/sorting tools.
  • Testing: Subsystem/system tests, operational trials in real environments (potentially with FSTP support from Ukraine).
  • Qualification and Certification: Ensure prototypes meet defence requirements; assess regulations for clearing operations.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory with consortia from at least three EU Member States or associated countries (Norway). Beneficiaries must be legal entities established in eligible countries with executive management in EU/associated countries. Non-EU entities may participate under strict conditions ensuring no control by non-associated third countries without approved guarantees. SMEs/mid-caps encouraged for bonuses. Minimum consortium: three independent entities from three eligible countries.

Harmonisation Requirements

Projects with design activities must be based on harmonised defence capability requirements agreed by at least two Member States/associated countries. Prototyping/testing/qualification/certification require support from at least two states intending coordinated procurement/use, based on common technical specifications. Declarations from competent authorities required at submission.

Funding Details

Indicative Budget:€10 000 000 for this topic. Overall call budget: €422 000 000.

Activity TypeBaseline Rate (cross-border)Max with Bonuses
Studies90%100%
Design65%100%
Prototyping20%55%
Testing45%80%
Qualification/Certification70%80%

Bonuses: PESCO (+10%), SME (up to 10% non-cross-border/20% cross-border), Mid-cap (+10%). Equipment: Depreciation and full cost for listed equipment. FSTP allowed up to ceiling. Indirect costs: 25% flat-rate or actual (with declaration).

Evaluation and Award

  1. 1Admissibility: Page limits/layout per call document.
  2. 2Eligibility: Detailed in call sections 6-7.
  3. 3Award criteria/thresholds: Section 9 of call document.
  4. 4Timeline: Section 4 of call document.

Key Documents and Submission

Submit via EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Required annexes: Detailed budget table, participant information, infrastructure list, cofinancing declaration, ownership control, harmonised capability/procurement intent declarations. Model Grant Agreement: EDF Action Grant Budget-Based. Contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu.

Primary Source:Official portal: EU Funding Portal. Call document: Call Fiche.

Additional Considerations

Synergies with prior EDF projects on UXO detection, mine countermeasures, unmanned systems encouraged. Security: Potential classified handling per EDF PSI. IP: Consortium-owned. No UK eligibility post-Brexit without derogation.

Risks and Recommendations

  • Secure harmonisation declarations early from at least two states.
  • Plan cofinancing with detailed declarations.
  • Address dual-use civil-military tech transfer.
  • Budget realistically for high TRL prototyping/tests.
  • Consider FSTP for Ukrainian operational trials.

Footnotes

  1. 1Detailed conditions in call document sections 5-10 and templates. Check portal for updates.

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Non-thematic development actions by SMEs

Call for ProposalOpen

European Defence Fund call EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME-NT supports non-thematic development actions led by SMEs to develop defence products and technologies starting at TRL 4 and above. The topic has an indicative budget of EUR 30,000,000 with a...

September 29th, 2026