EUROPEAN DEFENCE FUND – Spin-in EDF development actions implemented via actual cost grants – 2025

Objectives

• To develop affordable effectors in terms of precision and mass, with particular interest on Loitering Munitions and small UCAS and the necessary industrial adaptation for their mass production
• To modernize capabilities based on both Loitering Munitions and small UCAS, which can be produced and deployed at scale to gain battlefield advantage
• To develop and deploy affordable technological solutions for Loitering Munitions and small UCAS, alongside with the ramp-up of production of conventional munitions, such as 155mm artillery rounds
• To study, design, develop, prototype and test new generation of affordable mass munitions for ground combat indirect fire
• To enhance the ability of the armed forces of the EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries to conduct operations and act in space, enabling responsive space capabilities
• To optimise investment by leveraging synergies with past, ongoing and future EU civilian R&I in the field of in-space operations and services

Priorities

• Priority 1: To improve engagement capabilities by extending the range and precision of land based precision strike capabilities, delivered in a massive way
• Priority 2: To gain technological superiority for deploying affordable Loitering Munitions and small UCAS, for defeating conventional adversary targets
• Priority 3: To foster the integration of Ukrainian war lessons learned into EU defence industry products
• Priority 4: To enhance EDTIB capabilities to mass produce effective Loitering Munitions and small UCAS
• Priority 5: To reduce non-EU dependencies in the field of Loitering Munitions and small UCAS
• Priority 6: To prioritize CDP Land Based Precision Engagement
• Priority 7: To increase the opportunities for various smaller actors in the defence sector established in the EU, EDF Associated Countries or Ukraine – including those not previously active in the defence sector, to adapt and apply innovative technologies for defence applications- and promote technological edge in the field

Among financed actions

• Activities that aim to increase interoperability and resilience
• Studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or upgraded products, technologies, processes, services and solutions
• 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
• System prototyping of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology
• Testing of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology
• Development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies
• Qualification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology
• Certification of a defence product, tangible or intangible component or technology

Eligibility

• Be a legal person
• Be a public or private entity
• Be established in one of the eligible countries:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
  • Non-EU states: listed EEA countries and countries associated to the European Defence Fund (Click here)
• The action shall be carried out by legal entities cooperating within a consortium of at least three eligible legal entities which are established in at least three different Member States or associated countries
• At least three of those eligible legal entities established in at least two different Member States or associated countries shall not, during the entire period in which the action is carried out, be controlled, directly or indirectly, by the same legal entity and shall not control each other

Additional information

• Initial duration of the action: 24 months
• Contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu

Useful

• Guidelines: Click here
• Other call documents: Click here
• DG website: Click here
• More information: Click here

• Total budget of the call: 98 million euros
• Budget per topic
  • EDF-2025-DA-SI-GROUND-DAMM – EDF-DA EDF Development Actions: 49 million euros
  • EDF-2025-DA-SI-SPACE-3OS – EDF-DA EDF Development Actions: 49 million euros
• Amount of the grant for topic
  • EDF-2025-DA-SI-GROUND-DAMM – EDF-DA EDF Development Actions: up to 9.800.000 euros per proposal
• Funding rate: up to 100% of the total eligible costs