Multifunctional Information Distribution System

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the European Defence Fund (EDF) for research actions related to the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS), specified as EDF-2025-RA-C4ISR-MIDS-STEP. The goal of this initiative is to enhance EU sovereignty and interoperability in defense, reduce reliance on non-EU suppliers, and strengthen the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). The project focuses on the design, development, and construction of a demonstrator for the European Fighter MIDS (F-EMIDS) terminal, incorporating an innovative Software Communication Architecture (SCA) that meets NATO standards and exceeds existing systems.

The call is open to consortia of entities from EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. Eligible participants include defense companies, research organizations, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A minimum of two entities from different eligible countries is required, and the opportunity specifically encourages cross-border collaboration and the participation of small firms through funding bonuses.

The budget allocated for this topic is €39,000,000. The funding type is non-repayable financial contributions structured as actual cost grants for research actions. The application process is single-stage, with a submission deadline set for October 16, 2025. Mandatory activities include studies to identify technical risks and life-cycle costs, as well as design activities leading up to the Critical Design Review (CDR).

Proposals must focus on secure communications technology and incorporate various functional requirements, including capabilities for tactical data transmission, superb stealth functions, and compliance with Software Defined Radio (SDR) SCA standards. The initiative emphasizes the importance of integrating advanced technology for enhanced military communication and operational resilience.

Conditions for participation cover admissibility, financial and operational capacities, and exclusion criteria. The evaluation process will assess proposals based on defined award criteria and scoring thresholds. Applicants are encouraged to utilize provided application templates and seek partners through the Funding & Tenders Portal.

In summary, the EDF-2025-RA-C4ISR-MIDS-STEP call seeks to develop autonomous European defense capabilities in communication technologies, aiming for robust and secure systems essential for air, land, and maritime operations. This initiative will ultimately contribute to the EU's strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty in defense communications.

This is a call for proposals for the European Defence Fund (EDF) Research Actions (EDF-RA) related to the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) under the topic EDF-2025-RA-C4ISR-MIDS-STEP. The call aims to improve EU sovereignty and autonomy, enhance C4ISR interoperability, reduce dependencies on non-EU suppliers, and boost the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). The specific objective is to design, develop, and build a demonstrator of a radiocommunication system that provides a critical defence capability. The call contributes to the STEP objectives, focusing on deep and digital technologies.

The scope requires proposals to design, develop, and test a demonstrator of a European Fighter MIDS (F-EMIDS) terminal with an innovative Software Communication Architecture (SCA). The terminal should exceed or be comparable to existing systems.

Eligible activities include:
Activities that aim to create, underpin and improve knowledge, products and technologies, including disruptive technologies, which can achieve significant effects in the area of defence (generating knowledge) (optional).
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) (optional).
Studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or upgraded products, technologies, processes, services and solutions (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 (mandatory).

System prototyping, testing, qualification, certification, and development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies are NOT eligible.

Mandatory activities include studies to set up configurations, identify and mitigate technical risks, perform life-cycle cost analysis, and contribute to the Concept of Operations (CONOPS). Design activities include selecting technologies, designing modules, covering detailed design activities until the Critical Design Review (CDR), manufacturing functional modules, ensuring manufacturing ability with an efficient supply chain, and performing laboratory functional testing to evaluate system functions, EW performance, verify functions against requirements, and validate requirements against operational needs.

Functional requirements for the proposed product and technologies include:
Transmit and receive Link 16 datalink following the ATDLP-1.75, encompassing waveform signal generation and reception, interaction with the host system to configure the radio and exchange Link16 messages and voice.
Transmit tactical data with Host platform according to ATDLP-5.16.
Include TACAN capability to be implemented into the fighter environment, requiring Air/Air and Ground/Air modes, but no transponder requirement.
Include future airborne stealth WF capability as growth potential, including baseband WF signal generation and reception, interfaces with front-end antennas, security function with a Secure Data Unit SDU (crypto component), and interaction with the host system to convoy operational messages.
Include other capabilities in the airborne environment in terms of cosite environment using suppression signal (input / output), built in test, monitoring, and status to report to the operator, navigation information exchange, message filtering, and cryptographic elements management.
Comply with Software Defined Radio SCA standards, requiring all elements necessary for the targeted WF to be executed, including hardware to support software and waveform processing, and the operational environment for the SDR.
Support the WF operational life cycle and maintain data during standby.
Encompass hardware constraints such as mechanical, thermal, interference protection, and security requirements for the global F-EMIDS radio, the EL16 WF, the airborne stealth WF, and the EMIDS-C security rules.
Include various capabilities linked to the design to support security, safety, and airworthiness rules.
Apply required engineering rules and regulation rules.

The call opened on 18 February 2025 and closes on 16 October 2025 at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the EDF-2025-RA-C4ISR-MIDS-STEP topic is 39,000,000 EUR. This is a single-stage submission model.

Conditions for participation include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion criteria. The evaluation and award process involves submission and evaluation processes, award criteria, scoring, thresholds, and an indicative timeline. The legal and financial setup of the grants is also specified.

Applicants are encouraged to use the provided templates for the application form, detailed budget table, participant information, list of infrastructure, actual indirect cost methodology declaration, ownership control declaration, and PRS declaration. Additional documents include the EDF Annual Work Programme, EDF Regulation 2021/697, EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI), EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Statement.

Potential applicants can find partners through the Funding & Tenders Portal. For help, applicants can contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu, attend EDF Info-days 2025, consult the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, or contact the IT Helpdesk.

In summary, this European Defence Fund call seeks to bolster the EU's defence capabilities by fostering the development of a sovereign European Fighter MIDS terminal. It targets EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries, encouraging them to collaborate on studies and designs that will lead to a demonstrator exceeding current capabilities. The focus is on enhancing interoperability, reducing reliance on non-EU suppliers, and promoting technological advancement in the defence sector, particularly in communication, navigation, and identification technologies. The call emphasizes the importance of secure and resilient communication systems for air, land, and maritime operations, contributing to the EU's strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include entities from EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. The text mentions "EU Member States (MS) and EDF Associated Countries" as having used MIDS and needing to adapt MIDS terminals. It also mentions boosting the EDTIB (European Defence Technological and Industrial Base), suggesting that companies involved in defence technology are eligible. Startups and SMEs are also likely eligible, as the EDF generally encourages their participation.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically "EDF Research Actions implemented via actual cost grants (EDF-2025-RA)" and "EDF Action Grant Budget-Based [EDF-AG]".

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to require a consortium. The text mentions "consortium agreement is obligatory in EDF Grants" and encourages partner searches.

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

Target Sector: The target sector is defense, specifically C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and radiocommunication systems. The call focuses on the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS) and deep and digital technologies relevant to defense.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on design, development, and demonstration. The call aims to "design, develop and build a demonstrator of a radiocommunication system." System prototyping and testing are explicitly excluded, but studies and design activities are mandatory.

Funding Amount: The budget for the "EDF-2025-RA-C4ISR-MIDS-STEP" topic is EUR 39,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to fund their research and development activities.

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 text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the European Defence Fund (EDF) for research actions related to the Multifunctional Information Distribution System (MIDS). The goal is to develop a European Fighter MIDS (F-EMIDS) terminal with an innovative Software Communication Architecture (SCA) to enhance the EU's sovereignty and interoperability in defense. The call is open to consortia of entities from EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. The project should focus on studies and design activities, leading to a demonstrator, with a total budget of EUR 39 million. The deadline for submission is October 16, 2025. The call aims to reduce dependency on non-EU suppliers and promote the development of a European solution for secure military communications. The project must comply with Software Defined Radio (SDR) SCA standards and include various capabilities linked to the design to support security, safety, and airworthiness rules. The call contributes to the STEP objectives in the target investment area of deep and digital technologies.