Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
The European Defence Fund (EDF) is the Commission’s initiative to support collaborative defence research and development, and to foster an innovative and competitive defence industrial base.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
Main Battle Tanks (MBT) remain a pivotal element of land military manoeuvre, especially in a conventional warfare context, thanks to their unique combination of protection, mobility, and firepower. Nonetheless, MBTs currently numbered in the fleet inventories of the EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) are either ageing or obsolete and, therefore, the latter face the compelling need to modernise their in-service platforms and replace those of them approaching the end of their operational life. Against this background, the upgrade of current and development of future main battle tank technologies capable of outstanding operational effectiveness and mission success in all possible future scenarios are highly necessary.
Detailed Call Description
To this end, it is of key importance for future European MBT systems to:
- be designed to operate in all environments, including urban and symmetrical high intensity warfare, counter peer or near peer and asymmetrical threats, by operating dispersed in the context of multi-dimensional operations;
- have a higher level of protection, enhanced stealth capability, enhanced survivability in all environments against symmetric and asymmetric threats, and resilience against cyber- and electronic warfare-attacks;
- have a higher capability of detecting and identifying threats at greater distances;
- be operated by a smaller crew, compared to present/today’s designs, allowing the system to be lighter, more compact, and agile;
- be equipped with advanced command and control system that supports the crew with situational awareness, target acquisition, target engagements, target handover, battle space management, data- and information sharing;
- be able to cooperate with adjacent manned and unmanned robotic assets;
- rely on a superior firepower to engage and win symmetrical duels, as well as to conduct urban and asymmetrical operations successfully;
- rely on advanced mobility (e.g. higher speed, better manoeuvrability in all terrains, new operating modes such as silent mode), a lower fuel consumption, greater operational range and autonomy, and supply the increased electric demand of on-board equipment and weapons;
- be prepared to be operated unmanned in the future.
The proposals must address studies and design for the upgrade of current and development of future main battle tank technologies, including enabling and green technologies, leading to a system level, capable of outstanding operational effectiveness and mission success in all possible future scenarios. Furthermore, the proposals must take into account aspects such as mobility, deployability, autonomy, firepower, protection and cybersecurity.
Call Total Budget
Thematic Categories
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Justice - Security
- Other Thematic Category
- Public Administration
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Central Government
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
Applications will only be considered eligible if their content corresponds wholly (or at least in part) to the topic description for which it is submitted.
Eligible participants (eligible countries) – In order to be eligible, the applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must:
- be legal entities (public or private bodies)
- be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
- EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)
- non-EU countries:
- listed EEA countries (‘EDF associated countries’, see list of participating countries)
- have their executive management structure established in eligible countries
- must not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or nonassociated third-country entity (unless they can provide guarantees – see Annex 2 – approved by the Member State or EDF associated country where they are established).
Associated partners which are not established in one of the eligible countries (or which are subject to control by a non-associated third country or non-associated third-country entity) may however participate exceptionally if certain conditions are fulfilled (not contravene EU and MS security and defence interests; consistent with EDF objectives; results not subject to control or restriction by non-associated third countries or non-associated third-country entities; no unauthorised access to classified information; no potential negative effects over security of supply of inputs which are critical for the project), subject to agreement by the granting authority and without any funding under the grant.
Consortium composition – For all topics under this call, proposals must be submitted by: minimum 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Ministry of Defense
172-174 Strovolos Avenue, 2048 Strovolos, Nicosia,
website: https://mod.gov.cy/
Telephone: 22 807500
Email: defence@mod.gov.cy
Department of Research and Innovation
Phones: 22 807755, 22 807754
Email: research.innovation@mod.gov.cy
EU Contact Point
European Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DEFIS): https://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/defence-industry-and-space_en
For help related to this call, please contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu