Enhanced medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels

European Defence Fund call EDF-2026-DA with an indicative budget of €90,000,000 funds development actions to design, prototype, test and qualify enhanced medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels and associated autonomy, data management and mission modules. The project aim is to deliver a fast-moving, modular platform optimised for littoral operations that builds on previous EDF MSAS work and advances interoperability and European defence technological autonomy. Eligible beneficiaries are legal entities established in EU Member States or EDF-associated countries (including Norway) and applications must be submitted by multi-beneficiary consortia with required Member State harmonised capability and, for prototyping, procurement intent declarations; security clearance and EDF PSI compliance apply. The call opens 11 February 2026 and the single-stage submission deadline is 29 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Enhanced medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels

Call and funding basics

What this funds

Development actions under the EDF-2026-DA call to follow up previous EDF work on medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels. Activities may include concept review, new design, system prototyping, autonomy package development, information/data management and specific mission modules, plus testing and qualification.

Who can apply:Legal entities established in EDF-eligible countries (EU Member States and EDF-associated countries); multi-beneficiary consortia are mandatory and specific consortium composition rules apply. Associated partners, subcontractors and affiliated entities rules follow EDF call conditions.

1. 1Type of action: EDF Development Actions (actual cost grants)
2. 2Eligible activities: studies, design, system prototyping, testing, qualification and upstream/downstream development actions
3. 3Consortium: multi-beneficiary required (see call doc for minimum participants and national support requirements)

Budget, deadlines and grant rules

Indicative topic budget: €90,000,000. Indicative number of proposals to be funded: one (more may be funded depending on quality and available budget). Single-stage call; opening 11 Feb 2026, deadline 29 Sep 2026 17:00 Brussels time.

Funding form and rates:Budget-based action grant (actual costs). Funding rates and eligible cost rules follow EDF Regulation (varies by activity type and bonuses for PESCO, SMEs, mid-caps). Equipment costs normally reimbursed as depreciation; some items or topics may allow full cost—see call documents Call document and Annexes. ¹

1. 1Pre-financing and periodic reporting required; CFS (certificate on financial statements) thresholds apply
2. 2Subcontracting limited and must be justified; FSTP (financial support to third parties) allowed only within set ceilings
3. 3Consortium Agreement obligatory; security, ownership and co-financing declarations mandatory where applicable

Eligibility & security

Applicants must meet EDF country and legal-entity eligibility. Projects addressing design/prototyping/testing/qualification must be supported by Member States with intent to procure or agree common technical specifications. EDF projects may generate classified foreground information; security requirements (PSI, facility and personnel clearances, handling, marking, transmission rules) apply and are detailed in call annexes.

How to apply

Submit a single-stage proposal via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Prepare Part B using the EDF application templates (Part A filled in the Portal). Include mandatory annexes: detailed budget table, participant information, security and ownership/control declarations, co-financing where required. Use the submission session for EDF-2026-DA model and follow the Online Manual.

Footnotes

1. 1See the call document (work programme EDF-2026-DA) and Annexes for full funding rate tables, eligibility of costs and bonus rules and the exact treatment of equipment costs: ec.europa.eu

Enhanced medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels (EDF-2026-DA-NAVAL-EMSAS) — Call for Proposals

Programme: European Defence Fund (EDF) — Development actions implemented via actual cost grants (EDF-2026-DA). Type of action: EDF-DA (EDF Development Actions). Model Grant Agreement: EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]. Status: Open for submission. Opening: 11 February 2026. Deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: Single-stage. Official topic page: EDF-2026-DA-NAVAL-EMSAS — Funding & Tenders Portal. Call document: EDF-2026-DA Call document (V1.1 – 17.03.2026).

Topic scope and objectives

This topic follows up and complements prior EDF support for medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels (notably EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-MSAS). The aim is to develop an enhanced, universal, fast-moving semi-autonomous surface vessel platform tailored to littoral conditions for coastal defence and modular missions, with adaptability to future naval warfare roles. The action should review, mature and build on earlier concepts and designs, and progress new design, prototyping, testing and qualification for the platform, its autonomy package, information/data management, and mission modules. The topic contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) objectives in defence technologies.

Targeted activities:Studies; design; system prototyping; testing; and qualification (upstream and downstream activities eligible where relevant to development actions). An autonomy package, platform integration, information/data management and modular mission payloads are in scope.

Indicative budget and portfolio:Indicative budget for this topic: €90,000,000. Indicative number of proposals funded: One proposal is expected; more than one may be funded depending on quality and budget availability.

Who can apply and how

Submission is via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System; access the submission from the topic page and select: EDF Development Actions [EDF-DA], EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]. Single-stage evaluation. Proposal content and format are set by the call document and Application Form templates (Part A online; Part B and annexes uploaded as a single AES-256 password-protected ZIP). Admissibility, eligibility, evaluation, award criteria, and grant set-up are governed by the EDF-2026-DA Call document Sections 5–10.

Eligible Applicant Types

• Enterprises of all sizes in the defence supply chain: SMEs, mid-caps, large enterprises
• Research and technology organisations, universities, and other research institutes
• Nonprofit organisations active in defence R&D and development
• Public bodies with defence technology roles (subject to EDF rules)
• Note: All applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must be legal entities established in an EDF-eligible country and meet EDF ownership and control requirements (see EDF Regulation 2021/697 Article 9 and Call document Section 6). Subcontractors involved in the action are also subject to eligibility constraints.

Funding Type

Grant (action grant under EDF). Cost model: actual cost grant with budget-based reporting; indirect costs at 25% flat-rate or as actuals if national-authority-accepted methodology is provided (see Actual Indirect Cost Methodology Declaration template).

Consortium Requirement

Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory. The EDF standard minimum is a consortium of at least three eligible legal entities established in at least three different EU Member States or EDF associated countries, meeting ownership and control conditions and ensuring no excessive concentration of control, as set out in Section 6 of the Call document. Specific consortium composition conditions apply to this topic (multi-beneficiary mandatory).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Applicants must be established in EU Member States or in EDF associated countries. For EDF-2026, associated participation includes Norway. Participation by entities controlled by non-associated third countries is restricted and may require an Ownership Control Guarantee approved by the competent national authority in line with EDF Regulation Articles 9 and 23. Work performed outside EU/associated countries is ineligible; use of non-EU-located infrastructure/assets is by exception only and will not be reimbursed.

Target Sector

• Defence (naval warfare; coastal and littoral operations)
• Autonomous/unmanned surface vessels; maritime autonomy and AI
• C4ISR integration, combat management systems, data and information management
• Mission modularity, payload integration, sensors, and platform systems engineering

Mentioned Countries

EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway). The topic is EU-wide; no specific Member States are singled out in the topic description.

Project Stage

Development action spanning study and design through prototyping, testing, and qualification. Prototyping, testing, and qualification target maturation towards operational relevance of a semi-autonomous surface vessel platform, its autonomy package, data/mission modules, and integration. Exact TRL targets are not imposed in the public topic text but the activities focus on design to qualification stages.

Funding rates, co-funding and bonuses

EDF Development Action baseline funding rates apply per activity, with possible PESCO, SME and mid-cap bonuses. The maximum rate varies by activity and bonuses. Beneficiaries must calculate applicable rates in the Detailed Budget Table. For this topic, equipment cost reimbursement allows depreciation and full cost for listed equipment (see topic-specific conditions and MGA Data Sheet options for equipment).

Bonuses: PESCO +10 percentage points for projects developed in the PESCO context; SME bonus based on shares of eligible costs allocated to SMEs (higher multiplier for cross-border SMEs); mid-cap bonus +10 percentage points when conditions are met. Prototype-intensive work typically requires meaningful co-funding from industry due to lower EDF rates for (e) prototyping. Co-financing declarations are mandatory where applicable and considered under award criteria on quality and efficiency of implementation.

Application and evaluation

Application type and stages:Open call; single-stage submission and evaluation. Submit via the Portal; Part A online forms; Part B technical description and all annexes as a single password-protected ZIP (AES-256) via the Submission System; comply with Part B page limits and formatting specified in the call.

Nature of support:Monetary grant. Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) is allowed up to the standard EDF ceiling per recipient (€60,000), if included and justified in the proposal and implemented per Annex 4 of the Call document.

Evaluation and number of proposals:One proposal is expected to be funded under this topic. Depending on proposal quality and budget availability, more than one may ultimately be funded. Award criteria, scoring, thresholds and priority order are described in Section 9 of the Call document.

Success rates:No historical success rate is provided for this specific topic. The work programme indicates a single expected grant, implying a highly competitive selection.

Key eligibility and compliance conditions

• Consortium composition: multi-beneficiary; standard EDF cross-border collaboration rules apply (minimum three eligible entities from three different eligible countries, ownership/control conditions per EDF Regulation and Call document Section 6).
• Eligible geography: EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway).
• Security, ownership and control: entities controlled by non-associated third countries need Member State guarantees under Articles 9 and 23 of EDF Regulation; results and background must remain free of third-country control or restrictions.
• Use of infrastructure and assets: normally limited to eligible countries; any non-eligible location use must be exceptionally authorised and will not be reimbursed.
• Equipment cost rule for this topic: depreciation and full cost for listed equipment are allowed, as specified in topic conditions and the MGA Data Sheet option.
• FSTP allowed within ceiling; organisation of FSTP is reimbursed at standard category rates.
• Classified information and security: compliance with the EDF Programme Security Instruction and project-level Security Aspects Letter; site/personnel/facility clearance requirements may apply depending on information classification. EUCI handling rules apply.
• Subcontracting and associated partners: core tasks should not be subcontracted; associated partners cannot lead work packages; subcontracting typically limited and must follow best value/no conflict; detailed subcontract data required at proposal or during GAP if added later.
• Third-country procurement of items: equipment procured outside EU/associated countries is generally ineligible unless used on the territory of a Member State or associated country and compliant with EDF rules; results must not be subject to third-country control.

Mandatory declarations, plans and letters (where applicable)

• Harmonised Defence Capability Requirements Declaration (for design activities) by competent authorities of at least two Member States/associated countries, or joint intent if studies still needed.
• Declaration on Procurement Intent and Common Technical Specifications (for prototyping, testing, qualification, certification activities), signed by at least two supporting Member States/associated countries, confirming coordinated procurement/use intent and common specs (or joint intent if design still needed).
• Cofinancing Declaration(s) — template is mandatory at submission (as of EDF 2025 calls): include amount, status, indicative availability date, process and timeline, and expected IPR-related cofinancer return.
• Actual Indirect Cost Methodology Declaration (if declaring actual indirect costs), including national pricing authority confirmation.
• Ownership Control Declaration and Ownership Control Guarantee (if applicable) to satisfy Articles 9 and 23 of the EDF Regulation.
• PRS Declaration (only if Galileo PRS access is required by the project; not standard for this naval topic unless PRS elements are included).

Application templates and structure

All official templates are available in the Submission System and Reference Documents.

• Application forms: Part A (online forms) and Part B (technical description uploaded as a password-protected ZIP). See Application Form (EDF) V6.0 for required sections and formatting.
• Part B content includes: Excellence and potential of disruption; Innovation and technological development; Competitiveness; EDTIB autonomy; Creation of new cross-border cooperation; Lifecycle efficiency; Member State cooperation; Implementation (work plan, WPs and activities, resources and timing, consortium set-up, management, quality assurance, financial management, risk management, communication/dissemination); Ethics and Security; Declarations (PESCO bonus, SME/mid-cap self-assessment, PRS if relevant, international law and LAWS safeguards, background/results free from restrictions, previous activities, double funding, FSTP).
• Detailed Budget Table (Annex 1 to Part B) — includes activity-type funding rate calculation, SME/mid-cap bonuses, cost categories.
• Participant Information (entity descriptions, key staff, relevant projects, affiliated/associated partners, subcontractors involved in the action).
• List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (locations; FSC if applicable; justification if outside eligible countries).
• Cofinancing Declaration(s) — mandatory template with financial commitment details.
• Actual Indirect Cost Methodology Declaration (if opting for actual indirects).
• Harmonised Capability Requirements Declaration (for design activities).
• Declaration on Procurement Intent and Common Technical Specifications (for prototyping/testing/qualification/certification).
• Ownership Control Declaration and Ownership Control Guarantee (if required).
• PRS Declaration (only if PRS access is foreseen).
• Model Grant Agreement (EDF/ASAP/EDIRPA MGA) — governs legal/financial set-up.

Budget overview and timelines

EDF-2026-DA total envelope across topics: €422,000,000. EMSAS topic envelope: €90,000,000. Opening: 11 February 2026; Deadline: 29 September 2026; single-stage. Submission session availability confirmed in topic updates dated 12 February 2026.

Nature of expected work and technical emphasis

• Review and consolidation of earlier MSAS concepts, designs and demonstrators (EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-MSAS) and alignment with current naval operational needs in littoral/coastal defence.
• Design and integration of a semi-autonomous medium-size surface platform and its autonomy package, including navigation, guidance, control, perception/sensing, C2 interfaces, and safety/authority-of-function measures.
• Data and information management architectures for mission planning, situational awareness, and payload integration; modular mission systems enabling multi-role operations.
• Prototyping (hardware and software), platform and autonomy package testing (harbour, coastal and representative maritime environments), and qualification actions towards naval standard baselines.
• Cybersecurity, resilience, and secure communications within naval C2 environments; compliance with EU and national security restrictions for classified work and deliverables.
• Interoperability and modularity to enable future mission reconfiguration; design choices supporting maintainability and lifecycle efficiency; adherence to commonly applicable standards where relevant.

Co-funding Requirement

Yes, for activities where EDF funding rates are below 100%. In particular, system prototyping (baseline 20%, up to 55% with bonuses) and testing/qualification (up to 80% with bonuses) will require substantial co-financing. Studies and design may reach up to 100% with bonuses. Mandatory Cofinancing Declaration(s) must be provided at submission where applicable and will be assessed under award criteria.

Compliance, security and IPR

• Security: Project-level Security Aspects Letter will set classification handling rules; compliance with the EDF Programme Security Instruction is mandatory for EUCI. Facility, personnel and site security measures may be required based on classification.
• Ownership and control: Results and background needed for the action must not be subject to control or restrictions by a non-associated third country; guarantees may be required for entities under non-EU control.
• IPR: Results are owned by the consortium; detailed ownership, access rights and exploitation must be set in the Consortium Agreement consistent with the EDF Model Grant Agreement provisions.
• Ethics and values: Adherence to EU values; compliance with international law; lethal autonomous weapons without meaningful human control are not eligible; if countermeasures/defensive early-warning functions are foreseen, provide appropriate justification.

Support and resources

• Topic page and submission: EDF-2026-DA-NAVAL-EMSAS
• Call document (rules, rates, criteria, conditions): EDF-2026-DA Call document
• Model Grant Agreement: EDF/ASAP/EDIRPA MGA
• Online Manual and IT Helpdesk via the Portal; functional mailbox for EDF proposals: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu
• Participant Register, SME/mid-cap self-assessment: Portal > My Organisations
• Partner search tool available on the topic page; national focal points (NFPs) can assist with partner finding and guidance

Categorisation answers (detailed)

Eligible Applicant Types:SMEs, mid-caps, large enterprises; universities and research institutes; nonprofits and foundations in defence R&D; public bodies with defence technology mandates; consortia including these types. All subject to EDF eligibility, ownership/control, and security requirements.

Funding Type:Grant (EDF Development Action, actual cost basis with budget-based grant agreement).

Consortium Requirement:Consortium (multi-beneficiary mandatory). Standard EDF cross-border minimum composition and control dispersion rules apply; specific topic requires multi-beneficiary applications.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway), per Call document Section 6; compliance with ownership/control rules is mandatory.

Target Sector:Defence, naval, autonomous maritime systems, AI-enabled autonomy, mission modularity, maritime C4ISR integration, data and information management.

Mentioned Countries:EU (all Member States) and EDF associated countries (Norway). No single Member State is singled out in the topic; the opportunity is pan-European within EDF eligibility.

Project Stage:Study, design, system prototyping, testing, and qualification; advancement towards an enhanced semi-autonomous surface vessel platform for littoral operations and modular missions.

Funding Amount:Indicative topic budget: €90,000,000. One grant expected; possibly more depending on quality and budget.

Application Type:Open call; single-stage submission and evaluation via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Nature of Support:Money (non-repayable grant). Non-financial services include access to the Portal, helpdesks and, for successful SME beneficiaries, business coaching under EDF.

Application Stages:1 (single-stage). Grant Agreement Preparation follows evaluation for successful proposals.

Success Rates:Not published. With an indicative single funded proposal and a high topic budget, competition is expected to be strong.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes for activities below 100% funding (notably prototyping, testing, qualification). Co-financing must be confirmed via the Cofinancing Declaration(s) and will be assessed under the award criteria.

Practical compliance notes and templates

• Participant Information template: capture legal data, roles (COO, BEN, AE, AP, SUB), key staff and experience, affiliates/associated partners, and any exceptional non-eligible partner safeguards.
• List of infrastructure/facilities/assets/resources: provide exact locations and ownership; declare FSC status if needed; justify any resource outside eligible countries and acknowledge such costs are not reimbursable.
• Cofinancing Declaration: mandatory template; include legal identity of co-financer, amount, commitment status, indicative availability date, process/timeline, and expected IPR-related return.
• Actual Indirect Cost Methodology Declaration: provide detailed accounting methodology and cost drivers; include competent national pricing authority sign-off; list comparable national defence projects where accepted.
• Harmonised Capability Requirements Declaration: competent authorities support and identify the harmonised requirements; at least two Member States/associated countries; provide later if studies precede design.
• Declaration on Procurement Intent and Common Technical Specifications: at least two supporting states commit coordinated procurement/use; provide common specs (or joint intent) before prototyping/testing/qualification/certification start.
• Ownership Control Guarantee: for non-EU/NO-controlled entities seeking participation; specify governance, information security and IPR safeguards; obtain competent national authority approval.
• PRS Declaration: only if the project needs Galileo PRS data or modules; secure necessary PRS authorisations via national competent PRS authorities.

General summary

EDF-2026-DA funds a large, multi-national development action to advance medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels tailored to littoral operations and modular coastal defence missions. Building on EDF-funded predecessors, the project should consolidate prior concepts, deliver mature designs, and progress an integrated platform and autonomy package through prototyping, testing, and qualification, alongside robust information/data management and mission module integration. It is a single-stage, highly competitive topic with an indicative €90 million budget and one expected funded proposal. Consortia must be multi-beneficiary, meeting EDF eligibility and ownership/control requirements across EU Member States and associated countries (Norway). Funding rates vary by activity type (studies/design may reach up to 100% with bonuses; prototyping and testing/qualification have lower caps, therefore co-funding is essential). The call requires strong Member State backing for capability harmonisation and coordinated procurement where applicable, rigorous security compliance for any classified work, and comprehensive planning for IPR, supply chain, and lifecycle efficiency. Proposals must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the prescribed templates and must include any required declarations (capability requirements, procurement intent, co-financing, ownership control, etc.). The opportunity targets the defence naval sector at the intersection of autonomy, mission modularity, and maritime systems integration, with the strategic objective of strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and supporting STEP objectives in defence technologies.

Enhanced Medium-Size Semi-Autonomous Surface Vessels - EU Funding Opportunity Analysis

Funding Opportunity Overview

The Enhanced medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels opportunity is a European Defence Fund (EDF) call for proposals aimed at developing advanced naval platforms with autonomous capabilities for European coastal defence. This development action represents a continuation and enhancement of previous EDF initiatives in naval technologies, specifically building on work from the EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-MSAS project. The initiative is part of the broader EU strategy to strengthen defence technological autonomy and industrial capacity in the maritime domain.

Opportunity Identifier and Program Context:Call Topic ID: EDF-2026-DA. Program: European Defence Fund. Type of Action: Development actions implemented via actual cost grants. Type of Model Grant Agreement: EDF Action Grant Budget-Based. This opportunity contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) objectives in the target investment area of defence technologies and clean and resource-efficient technologies.

Budget and Funding Details

Total Indicative Budget:€90,000,000 is allocated for this topic under the EDF-2026-DA call for proposals. The fund supports development activities for military applications, with one proposal expected to be funded as the primary outcome, although multiple proposals may be funded depending on the quality of submissions and budget availability.

Funding Rates and Calculation:Funding rates are complex and depend on the type of activity performed. Baseline rates range from 20% for system prototyping to 90% for studies and design activities. Additional bonuses are available for PESCO participation (plus 10%), SME involvement (up to 5% for non-cross-border, up to 10% for cross-border SMEs), and mid-cap participation (plus 10% if at least 15% of costs allocated). Maximum funding rate with all bonuses can reach 100% for eligible activities. Individual funding rates and maximum amounts per beneficiary and reporting period are specified in the grant agreement Annex 2e.

Cost Eligibility Options:For this topic, the reimbursement option for equipment costs allows both depreciation and full cost for listed equipment. This is significant for development actions involving substantial capital investment in vessel prototypes and related systems. Personnel costs are calculated based on daily rates, with maximum 215 day-equivalents per person per year. Indirect costs can be declared at a flat rate of 25% of eligible direct costs or as actual costs according to usual accounting practices accepted by national authorities for defence domain activities.

Eligibility and Participant Requirements

Eligible Countries:Beneficiaries must be established in EU Member States or EDF associated countries. The current associated countries include Norway. Participants from all Member States and associated countries are welcome, with emphasis on creating cross-border consortia that enhance European cooperation in defence technology development. Non-EU participants may participate under specific conditions with appropriate security guarantees.

Participant Types and Requirements:Any legal entity established in eligible countries may participate, including large industrial groups, SMEs, mid-caps, research organisations, universities, and public institutions. Both for-profit and non-profit entities are eligible. Each participant must be registered in the Participant Portal with a valid PIC (Participant Identification Code). Financial and operational capacity is assessed at grant preparation stage. Beneficiaries must demonstrate ability to implement their proposed tasks and maintain eligibility throughout the project duration.

Consortium Composition and Multi-Beneficiary Requirement:Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory for this topic. A consortium must include beneficiaries from at least two different EU Member States or EDF associated countries to ensure cross-border cooperation and knowledge sharing. The consortium requires a designated coordinator responsible for communications with the European Commission, financial management, and ensuring proper implementation. Beneficiaries must establish internal arrangements through a written consortium agreement covering governance, decision-making, payment distribution, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Scope, Objectives and Technical Requirements

Primary Project Objective:The primary aim is to develop a universal, fast-moving platform optimised for littoral environment conditions while providing enhanced coastal defence capabilities. The platform must support different mission modules based on operational requirements and be adaptable to future naval warfare scenarios beyond coastal defence. The project follows up and complements previous EDF activities from the EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-MSAS call, reviewing existing concepts and designs while enabling new prototyping, testing and qualification activities.

Required Technical Activities:Proposals must address studies (including scenario analysis and feasibility assessments), design of the platform and its autonomy package, system prototyping with operational demonstration capabilities, testing in representative environments, and qualification against specified military requirements. Information and data management systems must be designed to support autonomous operations and human-machine interaction. Specific mission modules for different operational scenarios must be developed and integrated into the platform architecture.

Key Technical Performance Requirements:The vessel platform must demonstrate semi-autonomous operation in littoral waters with capability for different mission profiles. Design must support modular, interchangeable mission packages adaptable to specific operational needs. The platform must feature advanced autonomy capabilities with reduced crew requirements and future potential for unmanned operations. Data management systems must enable real-time information processing, threat assessment, and coordinated operations with other naval assets. The design must optimise for fast-moving capabilities, shallow draft operation suitable for coastal environments, and deployment flexibility across different member state naval forces.

Timing and Deadlines

Call Timeline:Opening date: 11 February 2026. Submission deadline: 29 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single stage submission). The call operates under a single-stage evaluation process, meaning all evaluation occurs after the deadline with no preliminary stages. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The submission window provides approximately 7.5 months for proposal preparation, including time for consortium formation, technical development planning, and budget calculation.

Project Duration and Reporting:Project duration is negotiable and must be specified in the proposal but typically ranges from 36 to 60 months for such complex development actions. Reporting occurs through periodic reports aligned with prefinancing payments, typically every 12-18 months. Technical and financial reporting must be submitted via the Portal Periodic Reporting tool. Final reporting includes submission of deliverables, certificates on financial statements if thresholds are exceeded, and completion of all milestones and deliverables as specified in the grant agreement.

Mandatory Defence and Strategic Requirements

Defence Capability Alignment:Projects must be based on harmonised defence capability requirements jointly agreed by at least two supporting Member States or EDF associated countries. These states must commit to the project objectives and provide written confirmation of support through a harmonised capability declaration. For activities involving design, prototyping, testing, and qualification, at least two Member States or associated countries must intend to procure the final product or use the technology in a coordinated manner, including potential for joint procurement arrangements.

Member State Co-Financing and Procurement Intent:Supporting Member States must declare their intention to jointly procure or utilise the final naval vessel platform in a coordinated manner. This procurement intent is critical for funding approval and ensures that development activities address genuine defence capability gaps recognised by multiple national defence authorities. Common technical specifications must be jointly agreed by supporting states and documented before design activities commence. These specifications ensure interoperability and compatibility with existing national naval architectures and operational requirements.

Security and Classification Requirements:All beneficiaries and sub-contractors involved in this development action must comply with the EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI). Classified information handling requirements apply, with security classification determined during grant preparation. Beneficiaries must have appropriate facility and personnel security clearances as required by their national security authorities. The project involves defence technology development with potential for classified foreground information generation, requiring implementation of robust information protection measures, secure document handling procedures, and compliance with EU classified information protection standards (Commission Decision 2015/444).

Application Process and Required Documentation

Submission Requirements:Applications must be submitted exclusively through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal electronic submission system. Submissions include Part A (administrative information completed in the Portal) and Part B (technical narrative uploaded as password-protected ZIP archive). Part B includes detailed technical description, work plan with work packages and activities, budget justification, participant information, management structure description, risk assessment, and ethical considerations. Supporting documents required include detailed budget tables, participant information forms, co-financing declarations, and harmonised capability/procurement intent declarations from supporting Member States.

Mandatory Supporting Documentation:For design activities, harmonised defence capability requirements declaration from at least two supporting Member States or associated countries is mandatory. For development activities involving prototyping and testing, a declaration of procurement intent from at least two Member States is required, specifying their intention to procure the final product in a coordinated manner. Co-financing declarations must include amounts, timing of availability, description of process and timeline for payment, and expected intellectual property returns. For entities declaring actual indirect costs, cost accounting methodology declarations with national authority certification are required. All declarations must be signed by authorised representatives and submitted with appropriate supporting evidence.

Page Limits and Technical Specifications:Part B narrative section has a page limit specified in the call documentation (typically 50-70 pages for development actions). Supporting documents do not count toward page limits. Minimum font size Arial 9 points, A4 page format, 15mm margins required. Text must be clear, precise and concise. Documents must be in the language of the grant agreement (typically English). Hyperlinks to external documents are not permitted; all essential information must be included in submitted documents. Electronic signatures or scanned blue-ink signatures are acceptable on declarations and supporting documents.

Award Criteria and Evaluation

Evaluation Methodology:Applications are evaluated against stated award criteria with scores assigned on a numerical scale. Evaluation is conducted by an independent evaluation panel of experts with relevant technical, industrial, and defence sector expertise. Evaluation occurs in a single stage after the deadline. Proposals must score above a minimum threshold to be eligible for funding. Scores typically address excellence of proposed approach, quality of implementation plan, consortia capability, cost effectiveness, and potential for military impact and European defence autonomy enhancement.

Key Award Criteria:Excellence and innovation potential: Proposals must demonstrate clear innovation in naval platform design, autonomy systems, and mission modularity. Technical soundness of approach, realistic feasibility, and potential to advance European defence technology are critical. Competitiveness and market potential: The proposed solution must demonstrate competitive advantage versus existing European and international naval platforms, with clear market uptake potential for European defence forces. Cost effectiveness: Budget must be justified and proportionate to proposed deliverables, demonstrating efficient use of EU funding. EDTIB autonomy contribution: Proposals must clearly articulate how the project strengthens European defence industrial and technological base independence from third countries. Cross-border cooperation: Demonstration of genuine cross-border collaboration with added value from multi-national consortium composition is essential. Member State defence capability priority alignment: The project must address explicitly recognised capability gaps in Member State defence plans and align with EU Common Foreign and Security Policy objectives.

Financial and Administrative Management

Grant Agreement and Payment Structure:Successful applicants will receive a Grant Agreement specifying total eligible costs, maximum grant amount, and payment schedule. Grants typically include initial prefinancing payment (usually within 30 days of agreement entry into force), interim payments linked to periodic reports (typically every 18 months), and final payment following submission of final report and financial statements. Prefinancing guarantees may be required from beneficiaries, typically in the form of bank guarantees covering the prefinancing amount. Payment distribution among consortium beneficiaries is managed by the coordinator, which must distribute funds to other beneficiaries without unjustified delay.

Financial Obligations and Record-Keeping:All beneficiaries must maintain complete records and supporting documentation for all declared costs for a minimum of 5 years after final payment (or 3 years for grants under €60,000). Records must enable direct reconciliation between amounts declared, amounts recorded in accounts, and supporting invoices and documentation. Financial statements must be drafted in euros with proper currency conversion documentation. For personnel costs, monthly time declarations signed by employee and supervisor are required. Equipment costs require depreciation calculations based on actual use rates for the project. Subcontracting costs must be justified with evidence of competitive procurement procedures and best value determination.

Audit, Verification and Compliance:The European Commission, Court of Auditors, and European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) retain rights to conduct audits, reviews, and investigations of project implementation and financial management at any time during the project or for 5 years after final payment. Beneficiaries must provide access to all records, facilities, and personnel upon request. Certificates on financial statements may be required if individual beneficiary costs exceed €325,000. External auditors must be independent and comply with comparable standards to EU Directive 2006/43/EC. Non-compliance with financial, administrative, or contractual obligations can result in cost rejection, grant reduction, suspension, or termination with potential recovery of funds.

Intellectual Property and Results Management

Ownership and Use of Project Results:The European Commission does not obtain ownership of results (intellectual property, designs, documents, data) generated by the project. All results remain owned by the beneficiary consortium, which must establish internal arrangements for management of intellectual property rights, background materials, and foreground information generated. Beneficiaries must provide each other with access to background information (pre-existing knowledge, intellectual property, materials) necessary for action implementation, subject to confidentiality and security restrictions. The Commission retains non-exclusive, royalty-free rights to use project materials for policy, information, communication, dissemination and publicity purposes.

Confidentiality and Data Protection:All sensitive information relating to the project must be kept confidential for specified periods (typically 5 years after final payment). Beneficiaries must implement information security measures including access restrictions based on need-to-know principle, secure storage requirements, and controlled dissemination procedures. Classified information must be handled in accordance with EU and national classification regulations and the EDF Programme Security Instruction. Personal data processing must comply with EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and relevant national data protection laws. Beneficiaries must ensure employees and participants sign confidentiality agreements and maintain appropriate records of data processing activities.

Synergies and Related Activities

Complementary EDF Projects and Knowledge Integration:Proposals should demonstrate how they build upon and integrate with previous EDF-funded naval technology projects, particularly EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-MSAS (medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels). Synergies should be identified with related naval projects including EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-NCS (Naval Collaborative Surveillance), EDF-2024-DA-NAVAL-FNP (Future Naval Platforms), and EDF-2025-DA-NAVAL-DSNCC-STEP (Digital Ship and Naval Combat Cloud). Integration with ongoing activities in related defence sectors such as autonomous systems, maritime surveillance, and naval command and control systems is encouraged to maximise technology transfer and avoid unnecessary duplication.

European Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS) Support:Successful project participants, particularly SMEs and mid-caps, are eligible for additional support through the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS), which provides business acceleration services, matchmaking support, and potential access to dedicated financial instruments under InvestEU for scaling up successful technologies and market entry. EUDIS support is available alongside EDF funding to enhance innovation ecosystem participation and accelerate commercialisation of defence technologies.

Key Applicant Considerations and Strategic Advantages

Competitive Positioning for Applicants:This opportunity represents a significant investment in European maritime defence capabilities with clear operational relevance to current security challenges. Successful consortia can establish market leadership in autonomous naval vessel development within Europe, with multiple Member State procurement commitments providing strong commercialisation prospects. Development of this technology strengthens participating organisations' positioning within the European defence industrial base and establishes technological leadership in an area of strategic importance. Cross-border consortia receive enhanced funding rates through bonuses and demonstrate commitment to EU strategic autonomy objectives, which is increasingly valued by Member States and EU institutions.

Strategic Fit with EU Defence Priorities:The call directly supports EU strategic priorities including strengthening technological autonomy in defence, reducing fragmentation of defence capabilities across Member States, promoting interoperability among European forces, and enhancing EU freedom of action in maritime security. The project aligns with Common Foreign and Security Policy objectives and contributes to implementation of the EU Defence Industrial Strategy. Participants demonstrate alignment with European strategic interests and contribute to reducing potential dependencies on third-country maritime technologies, which is increasingly important given current geopolitical developments.

Support Services and Expert Guidance:Prospective applicants can access support through National Focal Points appointed by each EU Member State and Norway to provide guidance on EDF implementation and facilitate consortium formation. The EU Funding and Tenders Portal provides detailed online manuals, templates, and frequently asked questions. Applicant helpdesk is available for technical questions regarding proposal submission. DG DEFIS provides guidance on strategic alignment and defence capability requirements. Previous EDF projects and detailed case studies are accessible to provide insight into successful project structures and management approaches.

Contact and Support Information

Official Support Channels:For inquiries related to this call, applicants should contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu. The EU Funding and Tenders Portal provides comprehensive online manuals with step-by-step guidance through proposal preparation and submission processes. The Portal IT helpdesk provides technical support for account access, password recovery, and submission system functionality. National Focal Points in each Member State and Norway provide guidance on defence capability priorities, Member State participation, and co-financing arrangements. Defence Industry and Space Directorate (DG DEFIS) is the granting authority responsible for call management, evaluation, grant award, and implementation support throughout the project lifecycle.