Future modular multifunctional land platforms and enabling technologies, including green technologies

The European Defence Fund (EDF) has announced a call for proposals titled "Future modular multifunctional land platforms and enabling technologies, including green technologies," identified as EDF-2025-DA. This initiative is aimed at enhancing defense capabilities through collaborative research and development (R&D) focused on modular land platforms and advanced technologies. Eligible applicants include consortia that must consist of at least two legal entities from diverse EU Member States or EDF-associated countries, which could involve small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large corporations, and research institutions. The funding type is predominantly through grants, supported by an overall budget of €1.065 billion allocated for 2025. Proposals must address the development phase, specifically involving activities like design, prototyping, and testing of new technologies, while aiming to improve efficiency and meet military standards. The target sector emphasizes defense technologies, particularly focusing on modular and multifunctional land platforms, including green technologies for energy efficiency. Geographically, this call is open to EU Member States, Norway, and also mentions Ukraine as eligible for potential partnership, though it cannot act as a beneficiary or subcontractor. The budget for the specific EDF-2025-DA topic is €79 million, though individual project funding may vary based on scope and competition. The application process is a single-stage open call, where proposals are to be submitted by the deadline of October 16, 2025. The nature of support is purely financial, with a requirement for co-funding, although exact rates are not specified within the details provided. The goal of this funding opportunity is to support projects that can advance the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) by enhancing interoperability, reducing reliance on non-EU technologies, and ensuring that EU member states can better integrate effective and sustainable armored vehicle solutions. Overall, the EDF focuses on promoting innovative and environmentally conscious approaches in defense technologies while fostering collaboration among EU entities to strengthen Europe’s security and defense capabilities.

This is a call for proposals under the European Defence Fund (EDF) focusing on the development of future modular multifunctional land platforms and enabling technologies, including green technologies. The call, designated as EDF-2025-DA, aims to enhance the performance and effectiveness of armoured land platform systems, making them more capable, modular, multifunctional, and energy efficient. The primary goal is to increase the maturity of enabling technologies and system-level solutions, especially concerning certification.

The call specifically targets the 2023 EU Capability Development Priority "Ground Combat Capabilities," with an emphasis on "Next Generation Manned and Unmanned Armoured Platforms" and "Modular and Multifunctional Systems of Systems for Effective Land Capabilities."

The expected impact includes providing EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries with the means to integrate qualified and certified platforms, increasing the capacity of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) to accelerate qualification and certification, delivering solutions for future system-of-systems needs, enhancing technological building blocks for future vehicles, reducing environmental and logistic footprints, and establishing EU business consortia to offer competitive solutions. A key aim is to reduce dependence on non-EU technologies, thereby increasing the EU’s security of supply.

The scope of the proposals should cover the development, qualification, certification, and improvement of efficiency for reaching initial operational capability for newly developed vehicles. Activities include further development and verification of systems and enabling technologies (including green technologies), increasing the maturity of systems and subsystems, validating that target vehicle systems meet operational requirements, implementing and certifying military and generic/civilian standards, identifying stakeholder needs for different land platform variants, defining system architecture, designing system variants, and testing prototypes.

Eligible activities, as defined by Article 10(3) of the EDF Regulation, include:

Activities that aim to increase interoperability and resilience, including secured production and exchange of data, to master critical defence technologies, to strengthen the security of supply or to enable the effective exploitation of results for defence products and technologies (integrating knowledge) Yes (optional)

Studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or upgraded products, technologies, processes, services and solutions Yes (mandatory)

Design of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology as well as the definition of the technical specifications on which such design has been developed, including partial tests for risk reduction in an industrial or representative environment Yes (mandatory)

System prototyping of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology Yes (mandatory)

Testing of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology Yes (mandatory)

Qualification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology Yes (mandatory)

Certification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology Yes (mandatory)

Development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies Yes (mandatory)

Mandatory tasks within the proposals include:

Studies:Analysing new technological solutions, identifying stakeholder needs, defining quality assurance processes, and analysing security of supply bottlenecks.

Design:Designing technological solutions to fulfil functional requirements and designing different system variants.

System prototyping:Producing different variants of prototypes.

Testing:Verifying the fulfilment of functional and stakeholder requirements in operational environments.

Qualification:Validating the fulfilment of requirements in operational environments.

Certification:Certifying target vehicles and systems according to standardisation requirements and validating future modular ground vehicles sub-systems and functionalities.

Increasing efficiency:Developing, testing, and verifying Life Cycle Support (LCS) and Integrated Logistic Support (ILS) solutions.

Proposals must demonstrate synergies with activities in EDIDP-2020-GCC and EDF-2021-GROUND-D-FMGV, particularly concerning All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs), Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), and Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs).

Systems engineering activities should follow ISO/IEC 15288(2023) processes. Functional requirements are detailed for the following capability areas:

Mobility:Improved mobility in extreme environments, high-level tactical and operational mobility, transportation of an infantry squad, water obstacle crossing, and compatibility with civilian and military bridges.

Modularity and Commonality:Platforms designed in different variants for various tasks, capable of integrating several weapon systems.

Drivetrains and energy systems:Exporting sufficient electric energy, enhancing high voltage solutions and energy recovery, demonstrating green technologies, and integrating technologies for increased autonomy and efficiency.

Survivability:Modular protection, integration of Active Protection Systems (APS), protection against improvised explosive devices (IED) and explosively formed penetrators (EFP), operation under chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) conditions, counter-UAV capability, and low signatures.

Interoperability and C4:Maximising standardisation using NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA), integrating manned and unmanned vehicles (UAV/UGV), cyber resilience, and integration of SATCOM, 5G, and CNR data exchange technologies.

Situational Awareness:Increasing situational awareness with hemispheric 360º awareness, automatic threat detection, real-time operational picture, and functionality in GNSS-denied environments.

Engagement:Remotely controlled weapon stations with autonomous functions and integration of various weapon systems.

Life Cycle Support:Maintainability in solution design, HUMS, Digital Twin, fleet management, design-to-cost approach, standardisation, commonalities, modularity, and embedded training and simulation.

The call opened on 18 February 2025, with a deadline of 16 October 2025, 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the EDF-2025-DA topic is €79,000,000. This is a single-stage call.

Applicants can find partners through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Help and support are available via DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu, the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, EDF Info-days 2025, the IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.

The call aims to foster the development of advanced, interoperable, and sustainable armoured land platforms, enhancing the EU's defence capabilities and technological independence. It encourages collaborative projects that address critical capability gaps, promote standardisation, and reduce environmental impact, ultimately contributing to a more secure and resilient European defence ecosystem.

In simpler terms, this funding opportunity is all about making the EU's armoured land vehicles better, greener, and more interconnected. The EU wants companies and research organisations to come up with new technologies and designs that will make these vehicles more effective in combat, easier to maintain, and less harmful to the environment. They are particularly interested in projects that can help these vehicles work together seamlessly and that reduce the EU's reliance on foreign technology. If you have ideas for improving armoured vehicles, this is your chance to get funding to develop and test them.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include entities capable of conducting activities related to defence product development, qualification, and certification. This likely encompasses a range of organizations such as SMEs, large enterprises, research institutes, and universities, particularly those with a focus on defence technologies. The call also mentions the establishment of EU business consortia, suggesting that collaborative projects are encouraged.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically Development Actions implemented via actual cost grants (EDF-2025-DA). The type of Model Grant Agreement is EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG].

Consortium Requirement:While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on establishing EU business consortia and the need for synergies and complementarity with other projects suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred, if not required.

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

Target Sector:The primary target sector is defence, specifically focusing on ground combat capabilities, armoured land platforms, and related enabling technologies. This includes areas such as green technologies, modular and multifunctional systems, interoperability, survivability, and life cycle support.

Mentioned Countries:The text explicitly mentions EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. It also refers to NATO Generic Vehicle Architecture (NGVA), implying a focus on countries within the NATO alliance, although this is not explicitly stated as a requirement. Ukraine is explicitly mentioned as not being able to participate as a beneficiary, affiliated entity or subcontractor involved in any EDF project, but could be considered as an associated partner.

Project Stage:The project stage targets development, qualification, certification, and improving efficiency, indicating a focus on projects that are beyond the initial research phase and are moving towards validation, demonstration, and initial operational capability.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary by topic, ranging from €25,000,000 to €79,000,000. Specifically, the EDF-2025-DA topic has a budget of €79,000,000.

Application Type:The application type is a single-stage open call.

Nature of Support:The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support the development actions.

Application Stages:The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates:The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement:The co-financing declaration document suggests that co-funding from the applicant or other parties is required.

Summary:

This European Defence Fund (EDF) call, specifically EDF-2025-DA, focuses on "Future modular multifunctional land platforms and enabling technologies, including green technologies." It aims to enhance the performance and effectiveness of armoured land platform systems for EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. The call targets the development, qualification, certification, and efficiency improvements needed for these platforms to reach initial operational capability. Eligible activities include studies, design, system prototyping, testing, qualification, certification, and increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies. The call encourages the formation of EU business consortia and emphasizes synergies with related projects. The indicative budget for the EDF-2025-DA topic is €79,000,000, and the application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of October 16, 2025. The call seeks to address the EU Capability Development Priority "Ground Combat Capabilities," focusing on next-generation manned and unmanned armoured platforms and modular, multifunctional systems. The ultimate goal is to provide EU member states with advanced, interoperable, and sustainable armoured vehicle solutions while strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).