Future main battle tank platform systems

This European Defence Fund call EDF-2026-DA supports development of next-generation main battle tank platform systems to address ageing fleets, prioritising multi-spectrum protection, mobility, firepower, sensing, command-and-control and reduced-crew/unmanned operation. The topic has an indicative budget of €125,000,000, expects to fund one proposal, and covers studies, design, system prototyping, testing and qualification with differentiated funding rates and co-financing requirements. Multi-beneficiary consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States or EDF associated countries (currently Norway) are mandatory, and higher activity levels require harmonised Member State capability requirements and procurement intent. Single-stage submissions must be made via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time, and projects must comply with EDF security (PSI), ownership/control and eligibility rules.

Future main battle tank platform systems (EDF-2026-DA-GROUND-MBT)

What it funds

Development actions to design, prototype, test and qualify next‑generation main battle tank (MBT) platforms and subsystems. Priorities include multi‑spectrum protection and survivability, advanced all‑terrain mobility, superior firepower, long‑range threat detection, C2 integration, reduced crew / unmanned operation readiness, logistics sustainability and manufacturing affordability.

Who can apply

Multi‑beneficiary consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States or EDF associated countries (Norway). Beneficiaries, affiliated entities and subcontractors must meet EDF participation, security and ownership/control rules; participation of non‑EU entities is exceptional and subject to strict conditions and guarantees.

Typical applicants and roles:Prime defence industries, system integrators, large and mid‑cap suppliers, SMEs, research organisations and authorised national authorities; consortium must cover required industrial and operational expertise.

1. 1Eligible activities: studies, design, system prototyping, testing and qualification
2. 2Security: classified info and facility/personnel clearances apply; security provisions set in PSI and Security Aspects Letter

Budget and award

Key dates and administration

Opening: 11 February 2026. Deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Single‑stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal; applications use the EDF Development Actions model and must follow the call document templates and security annexes.

Funding rules and rates:EDF development actions reimburse eligible costs (actual costs; some items may use depreciation or full purchase rules where specified). Baseline funding rates and bonuses (PESCO, SME/mid‑cap, cross‑border) apply; final per‑beneficiary caps are set in the Grant Agreement ¹.

1. 1Apply as a consortium with legal entities established in eligible countries
2. 2Comply with EDF eligibility, security (PSI), ownership/control and co‑financing requirements

Start submission from the topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (submission entry point and all templates available there) EU Funding & Tenders Portal. For call‑specific details consult the call document and annexes Call document (EDF‑2026‑DA). ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Call document and topic page contain full rules on eligible activities, budget lines, security requirements (PSI), ownership/control declarations, co‑financing templates and detailed funding rate calculations. See the topic page for EDF-2026-DA on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page.

Future main battle tank platform systems (EDF-2026-DA-GROUND-MBT)

Programme: European Defence Fund (EDF) — Development actions implemented via actual cost grants (EDF-2026-DA). Type of action: EDF-DA (Development Actions). Model Grant Agreement: EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]. Deadline model: single-stage. Opening date: 11 February 2026. Deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. Indicative topic budget: €125,000,000. Indicative number of proposals to be funded: 1. Topic status: Open for Submission. Portal entry: Funding & Tenders Topic Page. Official call document (EDF-2026-DA): Call Fiche (EDF-2026-DA) ¹.

Scope and strategic intent

Main battle tanks (MBTs) remain a cornerstone of land manoeuvre thanks to their combined protection, mobility, and firepower. In EU Member States and EDF associated countries, MBT fleets are ageing; this topic advances the development of future MBT platform systems to maintain and extend Europe’s technological edge. It follows and complements previous activities by targeting next-generation capabilities: multi-spectrum protection and survivability; advanced all-terrain mobility; superior firepower; long-range threat detection and advanced command-and-control; reduced crew operations and future unmanned capability; improved logistical sustainability; and affordability in manufacturing to enable rapid mass deployment when required. The topic contributes to the EU STEP objectives in the defence technologies investment area.

• Targeted activities span studies, design, system prototyping, testing and qualification, including eligible upstream and downstream development activities.
• Operational effectiveness is to be tested across varied environments and future scenarios.
• Affordability and industrial scalability are explicitly encouraged to support quick ramp-up of platform numbers when needed.

What activities can be funded and typical funding rates

The topic falls under EDF Development Actions with differentiated baseline funding rates per activity and bonuses (PESCO, SME, mid-cap) as defined in the EDF Regulation and the EDF-2026-DA call. Funding is calculated by activity type and may require co-financing, especially for lower baseline categories.

Bonuses include: +10% for PESCO projects; SME and mid-cap bonuses based on the share of eligible costs allocated to cross-border and non-cross-border SMEs/mid-caps (subject to the call’s detailed rules). Project management WP must apply the funding rate for activity (c) Studies. Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), if used, is funded at 100% but the management costs of FSTP follow standard rates under their respective cost categories.

Eligibility, consortium composition and Member State support

• Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory for this topic.
• Eligible participants: legal entities established in EU Member States or EDF associated countries (currently Norway), with executive management structure in these countries. Entities controlled by non-associated third countries may require ownership control guarantees approved by national authorities, under Article 9(4) EDF Regulation.
• For design activities (d): projects must be based on harmonised defence capability requirements jointly agreed by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries (or on the joint intent to agree them if studies are still needed).
• For activities (e) to (h): at least two Member States or associated countries must intend to procure the final product or use the technology in a coordinated manner (including joint procurement), and the project must be based on common technical specifications jointly agreed by those countries (or a joint intent to agree them if design is still needed).
• Participants and key subcontractors must meet EU/associated country eligibility and security conditions (including site and personnel security where applicable).

Operational/technical thrusts expected for future MBT systems

• Higher multi-spectrum protection and survivability against evolving threats.
• Advanced, reliable all-terrain mobility suitable for diverse theatres and extreme climates.
• Superior, scalable firepower and lethality overmatch.
• Long-range, multi-domain threat detection, tracking, and advanced command-and-control integration.
• Reduced crew concepts with pathways to optionally/remotely/unmanned operation in the future.
• Improved logistical sustainability, maintainability, and lifecycle affordability.
• Manufacturing affordability to support rapid scaling of platform numbers.
• Interoperability with joint/combined assets and digital architectures; integration with advanced sensors, networks, and battle management systems.

Budget, timeline and call administration

• Indicative topic budget: €125,000,000.
• Indicative number of proposals to be funded: 1.
• Opening date: 11 February 2026.
• Deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Submission: EU Funding & Tenders Portal, single-stage electronic submission.
• Part B and annexes are uploaded as a single password-protected ZIP archive (AES-256) per the call document instructions.

Evaluation, security and legal-financial setup

• Evaluation criteria, processes and thresholds are as per Sections 8–9 of the call document; security scrutiny may apply, including classification determinations for foreground information.
• Standard EDF, ASAP and EDIRPA MGA applies, with actual-cost grant rules, specific eligibility for cost categories, audit rights, reporting and payment arrangements, prefinancing and guarantees as detailed in the Model Grant Agreement.
• For this topic, reimbursement of equipment may follow depreciation and full cost for listed equipment as specified for EDF-2026-DA topics in Section 10 and the data sheet, where selected.
• Programme Security Instruction (PSI) and security aspects letters govern handling of EUCI and nationally classified information; compliance with site/personnel clearance and CIS accreditation may be required depending on classification.

Templates and required annexes for application

• Standard application form (EDF) — completed via the Submission System; Part B narrative uploaded in a password-protected ZIP.
• Detailed budget table (EDF DA).
• Participant information (EDF) — organisational description, key staff, previous projects, and affiliated/associated partners/subcontractors data Participant Information Template.
• List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF) including precise locations and any FSC status Infrastructure & Resources Template.
• Cofinancing declaration (EDF DA, DA LS AND ASAP) — mandatory at submission; includes form of co-financing, timeline, and expected IPR-related return Cofinancing Declaration.
• Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF DA) — if opting for actual indirect costs, signed also by competent national pricing authority Actual Indirect Cost Methodology.
• Harmonised defence capability requirements declaration (EDF DA AND DA LS) — for design activities, signed by competent national authorities Harmonised Capability Declaration.
• Declaration on procurement intent and common technical specifications (EDF DA AND DA LS) — for prototyping/testing/qualification/certification activities Procurement Intent & Common Specs.
• Ownership control declaration and, if needed, Ownership control guarantee — for entities under non-EU/Norway control requiring guarantees Ownership Control Guarantee.
• PRS declaration (EDF) — only if access to Galileo PRS information is needed PRS Declaration.
• Model Grant Agreements (EDF, ASAP, EDIRPA) and Annotated Grant Agreement for reference EDF/ASAP/EDIRPA MGA and EU Grants AGA — Annotated MGA.
• Online Manual and Portal Terms/Privacy for procedural guidance Online Manual.

Important operational FAQs and clarifications (EDF-wide, applicable to this topic)

• Equipment purchased outside the EU/Norway may be eligible if used on the territory of a Member State or associated country for the project duration and without third-country control over results.
• Depreciation is the general rule for equipment; under development actions, full cost for prototyping equipment may exceptionally be accepted as specified in the call/topic conditions.
• Subcontractors should not lead work packages or perform core tasks; associated partners cannot lead WPs.
• SME/mid-cap bonuses require valid PIC and up-to-date SME/mid-cap self-assessments in the Participant Register.
• Non-EU controlled EU entities may participate with ownership/control guarantees approved by national authorities (Art. 9(4) EDF).
• Ukrainian entities cannot be beneficiaries, affiliated entities or subcontractors involved in EDF projects; they may be associated partners under strict conditions without EDF funding.
• For classified/security aspects, comply with Programme Security Instruction (PSI) and national/EUCI rules; security scrutiny can set dissemination/classification levels for outputs.
• Part B and annexes must be submitted as a single password-protected ZIP (AES-256). Follow the call document over any contradictory portal hints.

Categorisation and structured extraction

Eligible Applicant Types:Industrial and research actors established in EU Member States or EDF associated countries (currently Norway), including large enterprises (prime defence OEMs and Tier-1s), SMEs, mid-caps, startups, universities and higher education institutions, research and technology organisations, and public or semi-public defence laboratories. Nonprofits and NGOs with relevant defence R&D capabilities may participate if eligible. Government-linked entities (e.g. MoDs, armaments directorates) can participate as non-beneficiary supporting authorities for harmonised requirements and procurement intent; some public bodies may be beneficiaries when compliant with EDF rules. Subcontractors and associated partners have roles under EDF conditions; entities from non-associated third countries cannot receive EDF funding and have restricted roles.

Funding Type:Grant (actual-cost, budget-based). Bonuses apply for PESCO, SMEs and mid-caps. Possible inclusion of Financial Support to Third Parties (cascade funding) within set ceilings.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory. For design and downstream activities, Member State support is required (harmonised requirements; procurement intent and common technical specifications).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and EDF associated countries (currently Norway). Executive management structure must be in EU/associated country. Non-EU/NO-controlled EU-based entities require ownership/control guarantees approved by national authorities. Entities from non-associated third countries cannot be beneficiaries or subcontractors involved in the action and cannot receive EDF funding; they may be associated partners under strict conditions without funding.

Target Sector:Defence and land combat systems. Cross-cutting technologies include survivability and protection systems, armour and advanced materials, mobility and powertrain, lethality/fire control/weapon systems, sensors and long-range detection, situational awareness and advanced command-and-control, autonomy and human-machine teaming, logistics and sustainment, digital architectures and manufacturing/industrial scalability.

Mentioned Countries:European Union (region); Norway; Ukraine; United Kingdom (in FAQs regarding eligibility under the EU–UK Security and Defence Partnership, without conferring eligibility).

Project Stage:Development-focused: studies and design through system prototyping, testing and qualification. Validation and demonstration in relevant/operationally representative environments are expected for MBT systems and subsystems. Commercialisation and deployment are outside the grant but are supported by Member State procurement intent and common specifications.

Funding Amount:€125,000,000 indicative budget for this topic; one proposal is expected to be funded. Funding per consortium follows the actual-cost grant with activity-specific rates and applicable bonuses, implying significant co-financing particularly for prototyping, testing, qualification and certification tasks.

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

Nature of Support:Money (grant). Non-monetary support includes SME business coaching and guidance resources provided under EDF. Cascade funding to third parties is possible if foreseen in the proposal.

Application Stages:1 stage. Single submission and single-stage evaluation.

Success Rates:No official success rate is published for this topic. However, the indicative number of proposals to be funded is one, indicating high competition and the need for strong pan-European industrial coverage, robust Member State support, and compliance with all EDF security, eligibility, and financial rules.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes, for most development activities. The EDF DA baseline rates are below 100% for design, prototyping, testing, qualification and certification. Co-financing must be documented through mandatory Cofinancing Declarations at submission and substantiated during grant preparation. Studies and some integrating knowledge or lifecycle efficiency activities can reach up to 100% with bonuses, but teams should plan for co-financing across the work plan, notably where prototyping (baseline 20%) and testing (baseline 45%) are substantial.

Templates:Applicants complete Part A in the Submission System and upload Part B and annexes as a password-protected ZIP. Required annexes include Detailed budget table, Participant information, List of infrastructure/facilities/assets/resources, Cofinancing declaration, Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (if chosen), Harmonised defence capability requirements declaration (for design), Declaration on procurement intent and common technical specifications (for prototyping/testing/qualification/certification), Ownership control declaration/guarantee (if applicable), PRS declaration (only if needed). The Part B structure provides sections for Excellence, Innovation, Competitiveness, EDTIB autonomy and security of supply, Cross-border cooperation, Lifecycle efficiency, Member State cooperation, Work plan and WPs, Consortium set-up and management, Risk management, and Communication/visibility, with detailed deliverables, milestones, and Gantt scheduling.

Submission mechanics and formatting highlights

• Part A is generated by the Portal (administrative data, participants, budget).
• Part B must respect formatting limits set in the call (A4, margins ≥15 mm, minimum font Arial 9 pt; page limit per the call document).
• Part B and annexes must be zipped into a single AES-256 password-protected archive and uploaded via the Portal (follow call document instructions if any Portal text appears contradictory).
• Participants must ensure SME/mid-cap self-assessment status is current in the Participant Register to claim bonuses.
• Security, ethics, and ownership/control declarations must be complete and consistent; missing national authority confirmations (e.g., PESCO bonus confirmations, procurement intent, common specs) will reduce funding rates or render activities ineligible.

Contacts and support

• Topic Q&As via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
• For call-related queries: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu.
• IT Helpdesk via the Portal for access, roles, and technical submission issues.
• EDF Info Days and tutorials offer guidance on co-financing, forms of funding, eligible costs, reporting actual costs, selection and award criteria, PIC validation, submission, SME/mid-cap assessment, ownership control, and intra-EU transfer authorisations EDF Programme Page.

What this opportunity is about (summary)

EDF-2026-DA is a large, single-award, development-action grant topic to drive a pan-European, next-generation main battle tank platform family with superior survivability, mobility, lethality, sensing, and C2 integration, designed for reduced crew and future unmanned operation, and engineered for sustainment, manufacturability and affordability at scale. The programme invites strong multinational consortia to cover the full development chain from studies and design up to prototyping, testing and qualification, underpinned by harmonised defence capability requirements and common technical specifications jointly agreed by supporting Member States or associated countries. Funding is activity-dependent, with high co-financing needs for prototyping and downstream activities, and bonuses available for PESCO alignment and meaningful SME/mid-cap participation. Proposals must align with stringent EDF eligibility, security and sovereignty requirements, manage classified information properly under the Programme Security Instruction, and evidence real procurement intent to translate results into capability uptake. With €125 million and an expectation to fund one proposal, applicants should demonstrate comprehensive industrial teaming across the EDTIB, robust Member State backing, credible TRL progression plans, lifecycle-cost-aware architecture, and interoperability-readiness for combined/joint operations, while adhering to the EDF’s actual cost rules, formatted application pack, and single-stage submission by the set deadline.

Footnotes

1. 1All core rules, eligibility conditions, evaluation criteria, activity funding rates and legal/financial set-up are detailed in the EDF-2026-DA call document: Call Fiche (EDF-2026-DA).

Future Main Battle Tank Platform Systems - EDF-2026-DA-GROUND-MBT

This European Defence Fund (EDF) call supports the development of next-generation main battle tank (MBT) platform systems to address ageing fleets in EU Member States and EDF associated countries. The initiative aims to maintain technological superiority through enhanced protection, mobility, firepower, and other capabilities.

Key Objectives and Scope

Main battle tanks remain essential for land military manoeuvre in conventional warfare. The call follows up on previous activities to develop future MBT systems with improved operational capabilities across environments, including multi-spectrum protection, all-terrain mobility, superior firepower, long-range threat detection, advanced command and control, reduced crew requirements (potentially unmanned), logistical sustainability, and affordable manufacturing for rapid deployment.

The topic contributes to STEP objectives in defence technologies as defined in the STEP Regulation.

Targeted Activities

• Studies
• Design
• System prototyping
• Testing and qualification
• Upstream and downstream activities eligible for development actions

Funding Details

Indicative Budget:€125 000 000 for this topic under the EDF-2026-DA call.

Indicative Number of Proposals Funded:One proposal.

Funding Rates (Development Actions):Baseline rates vary by activity: Studies (90%), Design (65%), Prototyping (20%), Testing (45%), Qualification/Certification (70%). Bonuses for PESCO (+10%), SMEs (up to 10%), Mid-caps (+10%), potentially up to 100%.

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory. Eligible participants must be legal entities established in EU Member States or Norway, with executive management in eligible countries. Non-EU entities may participate under strict conditions ensuring no control by non-associated third countries without approved guarantees.

• Minimum consortium: Three entities from three different eligible countries.
• Harmonised defence capability requirements jointly agreed by at least two Member States or associated countries for design activities.
• Procurement intent declarations from at least two Member States for prototyping/testing/qualification/certification.
• Common technical specifications for higher activity levels.

Timeline

Application Process

Proposals submitted via EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Requires detailed budget tables, participant information, co-financing declarations, ownership control declarations, and other annexes. Part B and annexes submitted as password-protected ZIP file.

Evaluation criteria detailed in call document sections 8-9. Indicative timeline in section 4.

Security and Compliance

Projects may involve classified information. Compliance with EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI) required. Facility and personnel security clearances needed for higher classifications. Ownership control declarations mandatory for EU/NO entities.

Key Documents:Call document, application forms, model grant agreements available on portal. Detailed conditions in sections 5-10 of call document.

Additional Considerations

• Co-financing required; declarations mandatory.
• SME/mid-cap bonuses available.
• Financial support to third parties allowed within limits.
• Equipment costs: Depreciation and full cost for listed equipment.
• Contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu for call-related help.

Primary source: EU Funding Portal. Applicants should consult full call fiche and work programme for precise requirements.

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed funding rates and bonuses per Article 10(3) EDF Regulation.