MULTI MISSION UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (25.CAP.OP.033)

The European Defence Agency (EDA) announced a call for tenders, referenced as EDA/2025/OP/0013, for the development of a Multi Mission Unmanned Aircraft System (M2UAS). The estimated total value of this tender is €1,100,000 and it is structured as a services procurement contract over a maximum duration of 48 months. The primary goal is to create a versatile, fixed-wing M2UAS capable of fulfilling various mission types based on its configurations and payloads, focusing on military applications.

The project aims to achieve several objectives through a Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) framework. These objectives include defining operational requirements, identifying technological challenges, recommending systems engineering approaches, and enhancing European technological leadership in unmanned aircraft technologies. Specific contracts anticipated within the project will address topics such as the development of medium-sized cargo drones, air-launched weapon integration, electronic warfare capabilities, and automated air-to-air refueling systems.

The tender process will employ an open procedure, allowing any qualified organization to submit proposals electronically by the submission deadline of October 9, 2025. An electronic tender opening event is scheduled for October 10, 2025. The EDA will award contracts based on a best price-quality ratio criteria.

Eligible applicants for this opportunity include large enterprises, specialized defense contractors, and research institutions within EU member states, as indicated by the nature of the project. The participation of consortiums is also welcomed, as collaborations may enhance the development process.

The focus of the procurement is on the defense and aerospace sectors, particularly technologies relating to C4ISTAR, electronic warfare, and autonomous systems. All entities interested in participating must possess a Personal Identification Code (PIC) for registration. The tender emphasizes fostering European cooperation and innovation in unmanned aerial systems through a structured framework aimed at reinforcing defense capabilities across EU member states.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has published a call for tenders, EDA/2025/OP/0013, for the development of a Multi Mission Unmanned Aircraft System (M2UAS). The TED reference for this call is 156/2025 536531-2025. The procedure type is an open procedure.

The key objective of this project is to support the development of a fixed-wing M2UAS, capable of performing different types of missions depending on its configuration and/or payloads. The M2UAS concept shall include the feasibility of different operational capabilities envisaged for the UAS platform, including C4ISTAR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), ALE (Air Launched Effects), EW (Electronic Warfare), and AAR (Air-to-Air Refueling), with a phased approach. The project will be conceived under a Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) approach to prove the concept with different scenarios, and may include system and sub-systems demonstrators.

The general objective is further detailed with the following specific objectives:

SO1. Describing the possible conceptual approach and minimum mission requirements for the development of M2UAS, with an initial focus on persistent category (long-endurance missions, platforms, systems and weapons), including fully autonomous systems.
SO2. Identifying and analyzing technology challenges related to the development of a M2UAS for military purposes, deriving from existing and envisaged platforms and related capabilities.
SO3. Detecting the limiting factors for a common UAS platform with different payloads and the levels of effectiveness on different types of missions, focusing on C4ISTAR tasks at operational level.
SO4. Recommending principles of systems engineering/design with a focus on assuring the cost effectiveness of the M2UAS with the envisaged capabilities, including the “family concept” of M2UAS depending on the categories (tactical – persistent – penetrating).
SO5. Describing the current capability landscape.
SO6. Identifying potential collaborative opportunities at EU level, in order to develop M2UAS (e.g. collecting the body of work and needs of MS through workshops).
SO7. Involving the Military UAS Operational end-users in the development of M2UAS, from the requirements to the operational experimentation.
SO8. Supporting the development of European UAS technology, from the system to the subsystem levels, contributing to European technological superiority in the UAS domain.

It is foreseen to have four specific contracts related to four steps. SC2, SC3 and SC4 themes are merely indicative and might be changed:

SC2 Building on the results of EDA project FS2CATI-1, this will aim at supporting the development of a concept of operation and operational requirements for a medium size Cargo Drone capability, based on VTOL technologies.
SC3 Based on the M2UAS concept, this will aim at enabling the capability to deliver Air launched weapons as well as developing EW capability on the same platform.
SC4 This will concentrate on capability development in the field of automated AAR, based on the M2UAS concept.

The estimated total value of this tender is 1,100,000 EUR. The TED publication date is 18/08/2025. The lead contracting authority is the European Defence Agency. The main classification (CPV) code is 73400000 Research and Development services on security and defense materials. The nature of the contract is for services. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. The award method is the best price-quality ratio. It is a framework agreement without reopening of competition.

Key milestones include:

TED publication date: 18/08/2025
Date and time of public opening: 10/10/2025 11:00 Europe/Brussels
Deadline for receipt of tenders: 09/10/2025 17:00 Europe/Brussels
Contracting authority is not bound to reply to questions submitted after: 01/10/2025 06:00 Europe/Brussels

The following documents are available for download:

Invitation Letter (Version 2, published on 18/08/2025)
Tender Specifications EDA/2025/OP/0013 (Version 1, published on 18/08/2025)
Annex 4.8 Draft First Specific Contract (SC1) EDA_2025_OP_0013 (Version 1, published on 18/08/2025)
Annexes 4.1 4.6 to Tenders Specifications EDA_2025_OP_0013 (Version 1, published on 18/08/2025)
Annex 4.7 Draft Framework Contract EDA_2025_OP_0013 (Version 1, published on 18/08/2025)

Submissions must be sent exclusively via electronic submission.

A Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in this call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium).

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This tender opportunity is focused on supporting the development of a versatile, fixed-wing unmanned aircraft system capable of performing various missions through adaptable configurations and payloads. The EDA is seeking proposals that outline a comprehensive approach to developing this Multi Mission Unmanned Aircraft System, including defining conceptual approaches, analyzing technological challenges, identifying limiting factors, recommending system engineering principles, describing the current capability landscape, identifying collaborative opportunities, involving end-users, and supporting European UAS technology development. The project aims to foster European technological superiority in the UAS domain and involves a phased approach with potential system and sub-system demonstrators. The tender is structured around a framework agreement with the possibility of four specific contracts, each addressing different aspects of UAS development, including cargo drone capabilities, air-launched weapons and electronic warfare capabilities, and automated air-to-air refueling.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly list eligible applicant types. However, given the nature of the tender, it can be inferred that eligible applicants could include companies, research organizations, and other entities with expertise in the development, experimentation, and operational aspects of unmanned aircraft systems. The requirement for a Personal Identification Code (PIC) suggests that any organization capable of registering for one is eligible, which includes a wide range of legal entities.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a service contract awarded through an open procurement procedure. The call for tenders aims to establish a framework agreement.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details mention that a Personal Identification Code (PIC) is mandatory to participate in a call for tenders as a sole candidate/tenderer or as a member of a group (consortium). Therefore, either a single applicant or a consortium of multiple applicants is acceptable.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The opportunity details do not explicitly define geographic eligibility. However, given that it is issued by the European Defence Agency (EDA), it is highly likely that the primary target beneficiaries are entities located within the European Union member states.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is defense, specifically focusing on the development and experimentation of Multi Mission Unmanned Aircraft Systems (M2UAS). This includes related technologies and capabilities such as C4ISTAR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), Airborne Laser Effectors (ALE), Electronic Warfare (EW), and Automated Aerial Refueling (AAR).

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the opportunity details. The focus is on European Union level collaboration.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is focused on concept development and experimentation (CD&E), including system and sub-system demonstrators. This suggests a stage between research, development, and validation, with potential for demonstration.

Funding Amount: The estimated total value of the tender is 1,100,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call for tenders, with electronic submission.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in exchange for services rendered under the specific contracts awarded within the framework agreement.

Application Stages: The opportunity foresees four specific contracts related to four steps (SC1, SC2, SC3, SC4). This suggests that applicants may have to pass through multiple stages, potentially involving proposal submission, evaluation, contract negotiation, and project execution.

Success Rates: The opportunity details do not provide information on success rates.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for tenders issued by the European Defence Agency (EDA) for the development of a fixed-wing Multi Mission Unmanned Aircraft System (M2UAS). The project aims to support the development of a UAS platform capable of performing various missions through different configurations and payloads, including C4ISTAR, ALE, EW, and AAR. The project will follow a Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) approach, potentially including system and sub-system demonstrators.

The specific objectives include defining conceptual approaches and minimum mission requirements, identifying technology challenges, detecting limiting factors for a common UAS platform, recommending systems engineering principles, describing the current capability landscape, identifying collaborative opportunities at the EU level, involving military UAS operational end-users, and supporting the development of European UAS technology.

The EDA plans to award four specific contracts (SC1, SC2, SC3, SC4) related to different steps of the project. The themes for SC2, SC3, and SC4 are indicative and subject to change. The procedure type is an open procedure, with an estimated total value of 1,100,000 EUR. The maximum contract duration is 48 months. Submissions must be sent electronically, and the deadline for receipt of tenders is 09/10/2025.

The tender is designed to foster European technological superiority in the UAS domain and involves military end-users in the development and experimentation phases. The opportunity is structured as a framework agreement, awarded based on the best price-quality ratio.