High-end endo-atmospheric interception

European Commission call EDF-2026-DA funds a single development action with an indicative budget of €100,000,000 (plus €2,000,000 for OCCAR remuneration) to mature endo-atmospheric interceptor technologies to TRL 6 by 2030. Proposals must be multi-beneficiary consortia with at least three independent entities from three eligible countries (EU Member States and EDF-associated countries), demonstrate Member State backing for design and prototyping, and provide mandatory co-financing. The call covers studies, design, system prototyping and testing across sensors, propulsion, aerodynamics, separation, guidance and lethality, includes classified elements requiring FSC/PSC clearance, and is submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Submission deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.

High-end endo-atmospheric interception — EDF topic EDF-2026-DA-ACC-AIRDEF-EATMI

What the call funds

Scope in one line

Development actions to mature key technologies and demonstrators for an endo-atmospheric interceptor able to counter hypersonic and ballistic threats up to TRL 6 (airframe, propulsion, separation, terminal guidance and sensors, lethality, battle-lab simulation, testing and related studies).

Who can apply:Consortia of legal entities established in EDF‑eligible countries; multi‑beneficiary applications are mandatory (minimum three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries). Associated partners and subcontractors must also meet EDF eligibility rules. ¹

1. 1Eligible applicants: legal entities (public or private) established in EU Member States or EDF‑associated countries; executive management must be located in an eligible country.
2. 2Consortium requirement: at least 3 independent beneficiaries from 3 different eligible countries.
3. 3Security and ownership rules: participants must comply with EDF security, ownership/control and IPR requirements; participation of third‑country controlled entities only via approved guarantees.

Financials and deadlines

Indicative topic budget and timing.

What to prepare

Mandatory single-stage submission via Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals must include the standard EDF application forms (Part A online, Part B PDF), detailed budget table, participant information, infrastructure list and required declarations (co‑financing, ownership/control, security and, if relevant, harmonised capability and procurement intent).

Evaluation & award

Proposals are evaluated against EDF award criteria (excellence, innovation, competitiveness, EDTIB autonomy, cross‑border cooperation, lifecycle efficiency, Member State cooperation, implementation). Passing proposals may be invited to grant preparation; security and ownership checks apply before signature.

Where to apply:Submit electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page: EDF-2026-DA EU Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Full call document, templates and security guidance (PSI) are available on the topic page; consult the call document for detailed eligibility, funding rates per activity, required annexes and security procedures.

High-end endo-atmospheric interception (EDF-2026-DA-ACC-AIRDEF-EATMI)

Programme: European Defence Fund — Development actions implemented through actual cost grants (accelerated call) (EDF-2026-DA-ACC). Type of action: EDF-DA (Development Actions). Model Grant Agreement: EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]. Management mode: Indirect management by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). Form of funding: Contribution Agreement to OCCAR, which implements competitive actual-cost grants. Opening date: 11 February 2026. Deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission and evaluation. Topic page: High-end endo-atmospheric interception EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic. Call document: EDF-2026-DA-ACC — Call for proposals and rules Call fiche (PDF).

Strategic objective and scope

The topic follows up and complements previous EDF activities to develop an endo-atmospheric interceptor capable of countering hypersonic and ballistic threats. It aims to mature key technologies up to TRL 5 at subsystem level, conduct preliminary definition of the full system, and pave the way toward TRL 6 at system level by 2030 and a system at TRL 9 by 2035 onwards. The action contributes to the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) objectives in defence technologies and addresses EU capability development priorities, including anti-access area denial (A2AD) and ballistic missile defence (BMD). Interoperability with EU/NATO air and missile defence systems and compatibility with legacy launchers are emphasized.

Mandatory activities and technical content

Projects must cover Studies, Design, System Prototyping and Testing, with detailed tasks as below. Qualification, Certification and Life-cycle efficiency activities are optional but can strengthen proposals.

Studies — Preliminary definition phase (mandatory):Review common users’ requirements, review and refine initial interceptor technical requirements specification, and prepare a preliminary Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) for achieving TRL 6 by 2030 and TRL 9 by 2035.

Design — Preliminary definition phase (mandatory):Reassess and simulate the system functional chain to identify boundaries and shortfalls; set cybersecurity requirements; provide a preliminary safety plan; draft preliminary maintenance plan and Integrated Logistic Support; carry out system requirements review (SRR); select technological options at subsystem level and specify/design demonstrators; conduct Ready-to-Test reviews for critical components; perform a preliminary System Functional Review (SFR); deliver a System Engineering Plan (SEP) aligned with the TRL roadmap.

Design — Technology maturation (mandatory):Develop technology demonstrators to reach at least TRL 5 for key components and technologies: kill vehicle flight, on-board terminal guidance sensors, platform separation, stage separation, interceptor aerodynamics, propulsion, guidance/navigation/control (GNC), lethality. Proposals should also address data link technology maturation.

System prototyping (mandatory):Address, at minimum: platform separation for naval and ground platforms; stage separation; propulsion (booster, mid-course, terminal phase); on-board sensors (IR and/or RF) and algorithms; interceptor aerodynamics (complete stages); lethality (enhanced warhead, safety arming/disarming); kill vehicle flight control devices. Build a battle lab simulator for engagement planning kill chain, performance assessment, threat tracking and acquisition.

Testing (mandatory):Conduct battle lab simulations for engagement planning, performance, threat tracking and acquisition. Deliver test plans and success criteria for TRL 5 demonstrators of all critical components/technologies, execute tests, and provide trials reports.

Recommended additional tasks (optional but encouraged):Studies: Technology demonstrators for data links. System prototyping: prototyping of propulsion for cruise and terminal stages (including TVC if required); preliminary activities and long-lead provisioning to enable a system demonstrator at TRL 6 by 2030 as per preliminary technical specifications. Testing: lethality package trials (fragment generation and penetration at relative velocity).

Functional requirements:Versatility against ballistic missiles (including highly manoeuvrable) and emerging hypersonic threats (HGVs, HCMs); high manoeuvrability/agility across altitudes; high average speed enabling wide-area defence aligned with 2035+ sensor suites and early warning; compatibility with legacy launchers; interoperability with Surface-Based Air and Missile Defence (SBAMD) and NATINAMDS; high-speed/long-range connectivity across fire control, sensors, effectors for integrated dynamic networking; radar suite roadmap compatibility; integration with launcher/platform C2.

Budget, funding rates and bonuses

Indicative topic budget: €100,000,000. Indicative number of grants: 1. Entrusted entity remuneration: €2,000,000. Development Actions require co-financing for the share of costs not covered by the EDF; co-financing declarations are mandatory.

Applicable bonuses: PESCO +10 percentage points if developed in a PESCO context; SME bonus based on eligible cost share, with higher weighting for cross-border SMEs; Mid-cap bonus +10 percentage points where ≥15% eligible costs go to mid-caps. The final funding cap per activity applies after adding all eligible bonuses. WP1 (management) must always use the Studies rate.

Eligibility, consortium and geographic scope

• Consortium: Minimum 3 independent beneficiaries from 3 different eligible countries.
• Eligible participants: Legal entities (public or private) established in EU Member States (including OCTs) and EDF associated countries (currently Norway), with executive management established in eligible countries, and not controlled by a non-associated third country/entity, unless national guarantees per EDF Regulation Art. 9(4) are approved.
• Subcontractors involved in the action and associated partners must meet establishment and control conditions. Associated partners from non-eligible countries may exceptionally participate without funding if strict conditions are met and approved by the granting authority.
• Geographic location: Activities and use of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources must be in eligible countries. Exceptionally authorised use outside eligible countries is allowed without reimbursement, subject to strict conditions.
• Ukraine: Entities established in Ukraine cannot be beneficiaries, affiliated entities or subcontractors in EDF projects; they may be considered as associated partners without funding under strict conditions (as per Topic Q&A).

Special evidence and declarations required

• Co-financing: Mandatory co-financing declarations (EDF DA). Template provided; includes IPR-related expected returns and timelines.
• Design activities: Evidence of harmonised defence capability requirements jointly agreed by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries (Harmonised Capability Declaration).
• Prototyping/testing/qualification/certification: Declarations on procurement intent and common technical specifications by at least two Member States or associated countries intending coordinated procurement/use.
• Ownership and control: Ownership Control Declarations for beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated partners and subcontractors involved in the action; Ownership Control Guarantees and national approvals if relying on derogations (Art. 9(4) EDF).
• PRS (if applicable): PRS declaration by competent authority if Galileo PRS access is required.
• Indirect costs (if actuals claimed): Actual Indirect Cost Methodology Declaration endorsed by national pricing authority.

Security, classification and export/transfer considerations

Proposals will undergo security scrutiny; projects may be governed by a specific Member-State-led security framework under EDF Art. 27(4) or by Commission Decision 2015/444 and the EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI). Classified work requires FSC premises, accredited secured areas and PSC-cleared personnel as needed. Intra-EU transfer of defence-related products must ensure granting authority and EU bodies’ access for checks, with recommended end-user practices embedded in the consortium agreement to facilitate re-transfers among action participants. EUCI up to CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL and SECRET UE/EU SECRET may be handled under the PSI; TRES SECRET/EU TOP SECRET is excluded.

Evaluation and award

Single-step evaluation against eight award criteria (each 0–5; overall threshold 37/55): Excellence and potential of disruption (weight 2), Innovation and technological development (1), Competitiveness (1), EDTIB autonomy (2), Creation of new cross-border cooperation (2), Lifecycle efficiency (1), Member State cooperation (1), Implementation (1). Priority order for ties: Excellence/disruption, then Innovation, then Competitiveness, then Cross-border cooperation, then breadth of country participation. Successful SME beneficiaries receive business coaching.

Budget categories, cost rules and FSTP

• Eligible budget categories: Personnel (employees, direct contracts/secondments, SME owner/natural person unit cost), Subcontracting, Purchases (travel/subsistence, equipment, other goods/works/services), Other (Financial Support to Third Parties, Internally invoiced goods/services), Indirect costs (25% flat-rate or actuals under accepted methodology).
• Equipment for this topic: Depreciation plus full cost for listed equipment; full cost is eligible for system prototyping activities. Country restrictions apply to subcontracting and eligible costs (activities must occur in eligible countries).
• FSTP: Allowed in all topics; grants or similar support up to €60,000 per third party. Organisation costs are eligible under standard categories at the applicable activity funding rate.

Timeline and submission

• Opening: 11 February 2026.
• Deadline: 29 September 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time.
• Evaluation: September–December 2026; information on results in December 2026.
• Grant agreement signature target: by 31 December 2027 (subject to indirect management workflow).
• Submission method: Electronic via EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Part A online; Part B and all annexes uploaded as a single AES‑256 password-protected ZIP; password must be emailed before the deadline to DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS-PWD@ec.europa.eu with proposal ID and file name. Page limit: Part B maximum 100 pages including WP descriptions.

Application templates and structure

Applicants must use the official templates available in the Submission System. Core templates include: Application Form Part B (technical), Detailed Budget Table (EDF DA), Participant Information, List of Infrastructure/Facilities/Assets/Resources, Co-financing Declarations (EDF DA), Actual Indirect Cost Methodology Declaration (if applicable), Harmonised Capability Declaration (for design), Declaration on Procurement Intent and Common Technical Specifications (for prototyping/testing/qualification/certification), Ownership Control Declaration and Ownership Control Guarantee (if applicable), PRS Declaration (if applicable). Model Grant Agreement and PSI apply. Links to representative templates:

• Participant information Template
• Location of infrastructures/facilities/assets/resources Template
• Co-financing declaration (EDF DA/DA LS/ASAP) Template
• Actual Indirect Cost Methodology Declaration (EDF DA) Template
• Harmonised defence capability requirements declaration (DA/DA LS) Template
• Declaration on procurement intent and common technical specifications (DA/DA LS) Template
• Ownership control guarantee Template
• PRS declaration Template
• Application Form Part B — structure and sections Guide
• Model Grant Agreement (EDF/ASAP/EDIRPA MGA) Reference
• EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI) Reference

Who should apply

• Industrial primes and system integrators in missiles/air defence; propulsion, guidance, sensors, aerodynamics, warhead/lethality and C2 specialists; SMEs and mid-caps contributing critical subsystems and algorithms; research and technology organisations and universities with relevant defence technology capabilities; testing/qualification facilities and simulation/battle-lab specialists. Strong participation of cross-border SMEs/mid-caps boosts funding rates via bonuses.

Categorization and key facts

Eligible Applicant Types:SMEs, mid-caps, large enterprises/industrial primes, universities, research institutes, nonprofit RTOs, and public bodies, provided they are established in eligible countries and meet EDF ownership/control conditions. Subcontractors involved in the action and associated partners must meet similar establishment and control rules. Individuals are not eligible except sole traders without separate legal personality.

Funding Type:Grant (budget-based, mixed actual cost with unit-cost and flat-rate elements). Implemented under indirect management via OCCAR through a Contribution Agreement; beneficiaries receive actual-cost EDF action grants after competitive selection.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Minimum three independent beneficiaries from three different eligible countries. Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory for this topic.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States (including OCTs) and EDF associated countries (currently Norway). Executive management must be in an eligible country. Entities controlled by non-associated third countries may participate only with approved guarantees per EDF Regulation and Member State approval; associated partners from non-eligible countries may participate exceptionally without funding under strict conditions.

Target Sector:Defence; air and missile defence; hypersonic and ballistic threat interception; technologies include interceptor aerodynamics, propulsion (booster, mid-course, terminal), guidance-navigation-control, terminal seekers (IR/RF), lethality/warheads and safety devices, platform and stage separation, data links, battle-lab simulation, C2 integration and networking.

Mentioned Countries:EU Member States; Norway (EDF associated country). NATO interoperability is referenced in functional requirements; NATINAMDS mentioned for interoperability. Ukraine is referenced in FAQs regarding ineligibility as beneficiary/subcontractor.

Project Stage:Development with system definition, technology maturation to TRL 5 at subsystem level, prototyping, and testing; path toward system-level TRL 6 by 2030 and TRL 9 by 2035 for the interceptor.

Funding Amount:Topic budget €100,000,000; indicative number of grants: one. Actual grant size will reflect the selected work programme and eligible costs co-funded at activity-specific EDF rates plus bonuses.

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

Nature of Support:Financial: grants reimbursing eligible costs; optional FSTP to third parties; SME business coaching for successful SME beneficiaries.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage call and single-step evaluation).

Success Rates:Not specified. However, the work programme indicates one proposal will be funded for this topic, implying a highly competitive, winner-takes-all selection.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. For Development Actions, applicants must demonstrate financing for the share of costs not covered by EDF, via signed co-financing declarations. Funding rates vary by activity and can be increased by bonuses, but prototyping, testing and other activities remain co-funded.

Templates: Application Form and Annexes:Part A (online) and Part B (PDF within encrypted ZIP). Mandatory annexes: Detailed Budget Table (EDF DA), Participant Information (per entity, including key staff and relevant projects), List of Infrastructure/Facilities/Assets/Resources (with locations and FSC status), Co-financing Declarations, Actual Indirect Cost Methodology Declaration (if applicable), Harmonised Capability Requirements Declaration (for design), Declaration on Procurement Intent and Common Technical Specifications (for prototyping/testing/qualification/certification), Ownership Control Declarations and Guarantees (as needed), PRS Declaration (if PRS access is required). Part B must adhere to the required structure: project summary; excellence/disruption; innovation; competitiveness; EDTIB autonomy; cross-border cooperation; lifecycle efficiency; Member State cooperation; implementation (WBS, WPs, budget/resources, subcontracting, Gantt/PERT, consortium set-up/management, QA/M&E, cost effectiveness/co-financing coherence, risk management, communication/visibility); ethics; security; declarations (PESCO bonus, SME/mid-cap bonuses, PRS, international law and LAWS, background/results free from restrictions, prior PADR/EDIDP/EDF links, double funding, FSTP thresholds).

Key compliance and practical notes

• Page limit enforcement: evaluators disregard content exceeding Part B’s 100-page cap.
• Password protocol: Part B and annexes must be submitted as one AES-256 encrypted ZIP and the password must be emailed before the deadline to the dedicated mailbox with the proposal ID.
• Country-of-origin and control: ensure all beneficiaries/affiliates/subcontractors involved in the action meet EDF establishment and control requirements; prepare Ownership Control Declarations early.
• Subcontracting: Normally limited per beneficiary; tasks central to the project may not be subcontracted; country restrictions apply (eligible countries).
• Equipment costs: For this topic, depreciation is standard; full cost is eligible for listed equipment and for system prototyping. Align with the call’s special equipment rule and keep asset registers consistent with accounting.
• Security: Anticipate classified work and plan FSC/PSC and SAL/SCG compliance; implement PSI requirements, secured areas and CIS accreditation where needed; TRES SECRET/EU TOP SECRET is not allowed.
• Interoperability: Design for SBAMD/NATINAMDS interoperability and legacy launcher compatibility; plan for high-speed networked C2 and radar suite roadmaps.
• Synergies: Demonstrate complementarity with EDF-2021-AIRDEF-D-EATMI and EDF-2023-DA-DS-AIRDEF-EATMI results; avoid duplication and leverage prior designs/data.
• FSTP: Define scopes, selection criteria, amounts (≤ €60,000), and oversight processes if using cascade funding to bring in innovators and SMEs.
• Business coaching: SME beneficiaries can access EDF business coaching to support market uptake.

Useful links and support

• Topic page and submission EDF-2026-DA-ACC-AIRDEF-EATMI
• Call document and rules Call fiche (PDF)
• EU Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Guide
• Helpdesk and call-specific queries: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu; IT Helpdesk via Portal
• EDF programme overview and Info Days EDF main page

Summary and explanation

This EDF call will fund a single, large, multi-country consortium to advance an endo-atmospheric interceptor capable of defeating hypersonic and ballistic threats. The work spans requirements consolidation, system engineering and safety/cyber baselining, technology maturation with TRL 5 demonstrators across all critical subsystems, prototyping of key functions including propulsion, separation mechanisms, sensors and lethality, and rigorous battle-lab simulation and test campaigns. The project must demonstrate system-level readiness progression to TRL 6 by 2030 and align with a 2035+ capability horizon, ensuring interoperability with existing EU/NATO air and missile defence networks and compatibility with legacy launchers. Proposers must show Member State backing through harmonised capability requirements for design, as well as coordinated procurement intent and common specs for prototyping/testing phases. Funding rates vary by activity (e.g., studies and design up to 100% with bonuses; prototyping up to 55%; testing up to 80%), encouraging significant co-financing for higher-TRL work. Bonuses reward PESCO context and strong cross-border SME/mid-cap involvement. Strict security provisions apply, with potential classified elements governed by the EDF PSI and SAL/SCG. The application is single-stage and highly competitive, with only one grant expected, necessitating a compelling, end-to-end plan that integrates leading European missile/air-defence players, SMEs, test facilities and research actors. Strong governance, realistic risk management, clear TEMP and SEP, lifecycle efficiency improvements, and a credible path to coordinated procurement will be decisive in evaluation.

High-End Endo-Atmospheric Interception Development Programme

Funding Opportunity Overview

The European Commission is funding a single major development action under the European Defence Fund (EDF) 2026 Work Programme to advance critical technologies for a next-generation endo-atmospheric interceptor capable of countering emerging hypersonic and ballistic threats. This accelerated development call offers €100,000,000 in EU support to mature key technologies to Technology Readiness Level 6 by 2030, building on previous concept phase activities and transitioning towards preliminary design review and future industrialisation.

Call Identification and Timeline

Call ID: EDF-2026-DA | Call Type: Development Actions (Accelerated Call) | Single-Stage Submission | Call Opening: 11 February 2026 | Submission Deadline: 29 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels Time | Expected Evaluation: September-December 2026 | Grant Agreement Signature Target: By 31 December 2027

Funding Amounts and Budget Structure

Total Available Funding:€100,000,000 allocated for development activities under EDF-2026-DA topic. An additional €2,000,000 is allocated for remuneration of the entrusted entity (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation - OCCAR) managing the grant implementation.

Number of Projects to be Funded:Exactly one proposal will be selected and funded for this highly specialised topic. This concentrated funding approach reflects the significant technical and financial scale required for interceptor development and the strategic importance of this capability.

Funding Rate and Co-Financing:The funding rate varies by type of activity (studies 90%, design 65%, system prototyping 20%, testing 45%, qualification and certification up to 70-80% baseline) with potential bonuses for SME participation (up to 5% additional), cross-border SMEs (up to 10% additional), and PESCO participation (10% additional). Co-financing from Member States or other sources is mandatory, as development actions require demonstrated commitment beyond EU support. Maximum funding rate with all bonuses reaches 100% for certain activities.

Project Scope and Objectives

The development action aims to follow up and complement previous concept phase activities by maturing key technologies required to successfully counter hypersonic and ballistic threats up to TRL 6. The project must build on specific concept designs and advance required technologies through dedicated demonstrators, reaching at least TRL 5 for different system components and technologies. The action contributes to Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) objectives in the target investment area of defence technologies.

Mandatory Technology Maturation Activities

• Kill-vehicle flight characteristics and control systems
• On-board terminal guidance sensors (infrared and radiofrequency technologies and algorithms)
• Platform separation technologies for naval and ground platforms
• Stage separation mechanisms and sequencing
• Interceptor aerodynamics for all flight phases
• Propulsion systems (booster, mid-course, and terminal phase)
• Guidance, navigation and control systems
• Lethality package including warhead design and safety systems
• Weapon system battle lab simulation for engagement planning and threat tracking
• Data link technologies for platform-interceptor integration

Mandatory Work Package Components

• Studies Phase: Preliminary definition including common user requirements review, technical requirements specification, and preliminary test and evaluation master plan
• Design Phase: System functional reassessment, cyber security requirements, safety planning, logistic support planning, preliminary design of interceptor, system requirements review, demonstrator design, and preliminary system functional review
• System Prototyping: Subsystem demonstrators for all critical components, battle lab simulator construction for engagement planning and kill chain assessment
• Testing: Battle lab simulations, test plan development, demonstrator testing at TRL 5, trial reports, and lethality testing including fragment generation and penetration trials

Who Can Apply and Eligibility Criteria

Consortium Composition Requirements

Minimum Consortium Size:Minimum 3 independent beneficiaries (not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries. Multi-beneficiary applications are mandatory for this topic, requiring substantive collaboration across at least three Member States or EDF associated countries.

Eligible Countries:All EU Member States plus Norway (currently the only EDF associated country). Beneficiaries must be established and have executive management structure in eligible countries. Non-associated third country entities cannot be beneficiaries or affiliated entities, though may participate as associated partners or subcontractors under strict conditions without funding.

Participant Types:Eligible applicants include large defence companies, medium-sized enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), research organisations, and government entities. All must be legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries, not subject to control by non-associated third countries (unless approved guarantees provided), and must demonstrate financial and operational capacity to implement complex defence R&D.

Key Eligibility Conditions

• Design activities must be based on harmonised defence capability requirements jointly agreed by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries, with evidence provided through harmonised capability requirements declarations
• System prototyping, testing, qualification and certification activities must be supported by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries that intend to procure the final product or use the technology in a coordinated manner, with evidence of common technical specifications
• Proposal must demonstrate how it harnesses synergies and complementarities with ongoing activities from previous EDF concept phases (EDF-2021-AIRDEF-D-EATMI or EDF-2023-DA-DS-AIRDEF-EATMI)
• All costs must be incurred in eligible countries unless specifically approved by granting authority due to lack of competitive substitute or consistency with EDF objectives
• Participants must remain eligible under EDF programme throughout entire action duration
• Project must not involve development of lethal autonomous weapons without meaningful human control

Funding Conditions and Requirements

Budget Categories and Eligible Costs

• Personnel costs: Calculated as daily rates (annual costs divided by 215 working days) for employees or persons under direct contract; SME owners can declare owner work as unit costs
• Subcontracting: Must represent less than 30% of total eligible costs per beneficiary; subcontracted work must be performed in eligible countries unless approved otherwise; limited to necessary third-party support for action tasks
• Equipment: Can be declared as depreciation costs (standard) or full capitalised costs for equipment specifically for the action and developed as part of action tasks
• Travel and subsistence: Actual costs in accordance with beneficiary's usual practices
• Other goods and services: Consumables, supplies, dissemination, publications, translations, certificates and financial guarantees
• Indirect costs: Either 25% flat rate of eligible direct costs (standard) or actual costs according to usual cost accounting practices (requires national authority approval)
• Financial support to third parties: Allowed with maximum €60,000 per recipient, actual cost basis, with objective selection procedures

Ineligible Costs:Return on capital, dividends, interest, bank charges, currency exchange losses, provisions for future losses, deductible VAT, costs during grant suspension, in-kind contributions, staff costs for activities part of normal administration, excessive expenditure, and any costs declared under other EU grants (with limited exceptions for synergy actions).

Co-Financing Declaration:Mandatory submission showing how costs not covered by EU grant are financed (Member State contributions or beneficiary co-financing). Must specify financial commitment amount, status (confirmed or to be confirmed), indicative availability date, process and timeline for funds, and expected intellectual property-related returns for co-financers.

Reporting and Payment Arrangements

• Initial prefinancing: Approximately 55% of maximum grant amount, payable 30 days from entry into force or starting date (whichever is latest)
• Additional prefinancing reports may be required for projects over 18 months
• Interim payments: Upon submission and approval of periodic reports showing actual cost declaration
• Final payment: Calculated after final report submission and evaluation; may be significantly less than initially estimated if actual costs are lower
• Financial statements: Required for each reporting period broken down by budget category; beneficiaries certify costs are eligible and can be substantiated
• Reporting language: Language of the grant agreement (typically English recommended for efficiency)
• Currency: EUR, with specified conversion methodology for costs incurred in other currencies

Financial Guarantees and Securities

Prefinancing guarantee may be required, set during grant preparation and normally equal to or lower than prefinancing amount. Must be in EUR from approved bank or financial institution in EU Member State. Released at end of grant per agreement terms. Additional guarantees may be required based on financial capacity assessment.

Technical Requirements and Expected Outcomes

Technology Readiness Level Targets

Project must achieve at least TRL 6 at system level by 2030, building on initial TRL 5 achievement for key technology demonstrators during this action. TRL 6 means technology is demonstrated in a relevant operational environment. This level represents transition from prototype development to demonstration phase, laying groundwork for preliminary design review and post-2030 industrialisation phase including qualification and certification.

Functional Requirements for the Interceptor

• Versatility: Address both ballistic missiles (including highly manoeuvrable ones) and emerging hypersonic threats (hypersonic glide vehicles and hypersonic cruise missiles)
• Maneuverability and agility: Cope with manoeuvring targets across different altitudes using advanced flight control and terminal guidance
• High average speed: Protect large geographic areas with adequate response time for emerging threat timelines
• Compatibility: Work with legacy launchers and platforms while maintaining performance and feasibility balance
• Interoperability: Integrate with existing surface-based air and missile defence systems and NATO integrated air and missile defence system (NATINAMDS)
• Connectivity: High-speed and long-range data links between fire control centres, sensor networks and interceptor effectors
• Radar integration: Compatible with existing and planned radar suite roadmaps
• Command and control integration: Compatible with platform C2 functions for engagement authorisation and targeting

Expected Deliverables and Milestones

• Preliminary technical requirements specification and assessment of shortfalls
• Preliminary safety plan and integrated logistic support documentation
• Preliminary design of interceptor system and subsystem designs at TRL 5
• System requirements review report and preliminary design review package
• Technology demonstrators for all critical components (propulsion, guidance, sensors, aerodynamics, platform separation, lethality)
• Battle lab simulator for engagement planning and threat assessment
• Test and evaluation master plan and detailed testing protocols
• Testing reports and trial results from demonstrator evaluation
• System engineering plan for achieving TRL 6 by 2030 and TRL 9 by 2035
• Assessments of integration with existing defence systems

Application Process and Submission Requirements

Application Format and Components

• Part A: Administrative information (filled directly in Portal), including participant details, PIC numbers, budget summary, declarations of eligibility and compliance
• Part B: Technical description (100 page maximum), covering project concept, objectives, scope, work plan, consortium composition, implementation approach, risk management
• Mandatory Annexes: Detailed budget table (EDF DA template), participant information sheets, list of infrastructure and resources, co-financing declarations signed by co-financers, actual indirect cost methodology declarations if using actual costs, harmonised capability requirements declarations from Member States, procurement intent and common specifications declarations, ownership control declarations, participant register data

Submission Method:Electronic submission only via EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Part B and annexes submitted as single password-protected AES-256 encrypted ZIP file (maximum 100 MB). Passwords communicated separately by deadline to DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS-PWD@ec.europa.eu. Classified information submitted through special procedures arranged in advance with granting authority. No paper applications accepted.

Key Submission Requirements:All applicants must be registered in Participant Registry before submission with valid PIC numbers. Part B must be readable, accessible, printable and properly formatted (Arial minimum 9pt, A4 page size, 15mm margins). Evaluators will only assess submitted pages; excess pages disregarded. Full support from all applicants required; partial support proposals rejected. Coordinator must confirm mandate to act for all applicants and that all comply with eligibility and capacity conditions.

Evaluation Criteria and Scoring

Proposals evaluated against 8 award criteria, each scored 0-5 points (half-points allowed), with maximum total 55 points. Overall threshold for funding consideration is 37 points. Weighted criteria emphasise excellence and disruption potential (weight 2), EDTIB autonomy (weight 2), and cross-border cooperation (weight 2), with implementation, innovation, competitiveness, lifecycle efficiency and Member State cooperation also assessed (weight 1 each).

Award Criteria Detail

1. 1Excellence and Potential of Disruption: Overall concept soundness, compliance with topic scope and functional requirements, advantage over existing solutions, potential for strategic or technological disruption
2. 2Innovation and Technological Development: Novel concepts and approaches, ground-breaking technologies, integration of existing knowledge without duplication, spin-off potential to other defence applications
3. 3Competitiveness: Competitive advantage against EU and global solutions, cost-efficiency balance, market analysis and growth potential, strength of intellectual property strategy
4. 4EDTIB Autonomy: Contribution to European defence technological and industrial base independence, security of supply improvements, defence capability priority alignment
5. 5Creation of New Cross-Border Cooperation: New partnerships between entities in Member States or associated countries, SME and mid-cap substantive involvement and added value, planned future cooperation opportunities
6. 6Lifecycle Efficiency: Improvements across lifecycle (production, operational, maintenance, disposal costs), process simplification compared to existing solutions
7. 7Member State Cooperation: Joint procurement or use commitment from Member States, integration of European defence market, coordinated approach demonstration
8. 8Implementation: Effectiveness and practicality of work plan, realistic milestones and deliverables with measurable success criteria, appropriate management structures, quality risk management addressing critical risks

Security and Compliance Aspects

Security Classification and Handling

This action involves classified information and will require security scrutiny before funding authorisation. Beneficiaries must have appropriate facility security clearances (FSC) at required levels to handle EU classified information up to CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET UE/EU SECRET. Personnel with direct access must hold valid personnel security clearances (PSC). All classified deliverables submitted according to special procedures; any subcontracting involving classified information requires prior written Commission approval. Classified information protected under Commission Decision 2015/444 and Programme Security Instructions provided in grant agreement.

Intellectual Property and Background Information:Beneficiaries retain ownership of results generated. Granting authority obtains non-exclusive royalty-free licence to use non-sensitive materials for policy, communication and dissemination purposes. Background information needed for action implementation must be made accessible to consortium participants. Any background information subject to third-party or national restrictions requires beneficiary demonstration that obligations can be met without contravening EU and Member State security and defence interests.

Ethical and Values Compliance

Action must be carried out in accordance with highest ethical standards and applicable EU, international and national law. Beneficiaries must commit to respect basic EU values including human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights. Projects must not involve lethal autonomous weapons without meaningful human control over selection and engagement decisions (except early warning systems and defensive countermeasures). Personal data processing must comply with GDPR and applicable national data protection laws.

Financial and Operational Capacity

Applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources to implement project and contribute their share. Public bodies exempt from financial capacity checks; others assessed through documents provided during grant preparation (profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, audit reports, business plans). Assessment considers neutral financial indicators plus additional factors such as EU funding dependency, deficit trends and revenue history. Operational capacity assessed through competence and experience of staff responsible for project management and implementation, including key personnel qualifications, consortium member expertise and complementarity, previous projects of comparable size and nature.

Timeline and Project Duration

Project starting date will be fixed in grant agreement, normally first day of month following entry into force. Project duration not specified in call conditions but should reflect realistic timescale to achieve TRL 5 for technology demonstrators and reach preliminary design review stage by 2030. Typical development actions in this domain span 3-5 years. Grant agreement signature targeted for 31 December 2027. All project activities must take place during agreed project duration with specified reporting milestones and deliverables due monthly.

Strategic Context and Expected Impact

The endo-atmospheric interceptor development supports EU response to rapidly evolving threats from hypersonic weapons and manoeuvring ballistic missiles. The project contributes to defence capability development priorities agreed by Member States within Common Foreign and Security Policy framework, particularly addressing Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2AD) and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) capability shortfalls identified in 2023 Capability Development Plan. Successful outcome will enhance European strategic autonomy, reduce technological dependencies on third countries, strengthen European defence technological and industrial base competitiveness, and demonstrate integrated European approach to critical defence capability development.

Support and Additional Resources

Help Contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu | IT Support: EU Funding and Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk | Documentation: Call document, Model Grant Agreement, Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA), Online Manual all available on Portal Reference Documents | Information Sessions: EDF Info Days scheduled March 2026 covering call opportunities, evaluation process, financial aspects, submission procedures | National Focal Points: Available in each Member State to provide country-specific guidance on participation and partnership opportunities

Key Risks and Considerations for Applicants

• Single project will be funded: Competition is intense with potentially limited number of qualifying proposals; consortium must demonstrate exceptional excellence across all evaluation criteria to be selected
• Classified information requirement: All partners must be prepared for security clearance processes and compliance with classified information handling procedures, which can delay grant preparation
• Complex consortium requirements: Harmonised capability requirements from at least 2 Member States and procurement commitments from 2+ Member States required; obtaining these formally signed declarations before submission is critical
• Long implementation timeline: Technology maturation to TRL 5-6 requires sustained effort and resources; team must demonstrate capability to maintain momentum over multi-year action with security restrictions
• Co-financing mandatory: Beneficiaries must secure confirmed co-financing commitments; projects without solid co-financing backing face lower evaluation scores
• Detailed budget requirements: Complex funding rates, SME bonuses, and actual cost methodology create administrative burden; careful budget preparation essential to avoid eligibility rejections
• Technology maturation risk: Demonstrating realistic pathways to TRL 5 for multiple critical technologies simultaneously presents technical risk; robust risk management plan essential

Footnotes

1. 1Information current as of March 2026. Call opening 11 February 2026 with submission deadline 29 September 2026. Detailed guidance documents, application form templates, and security instructions available on EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Applicants must consult official call documentation on Portal and contact EDF helpdesk for clarification on specific aspects. For classified information matters, contact granting authority through DEFIS-LSO@ec.europa.eu.