Future main battle tank platform systems

Open

This is the status published by the official source.

Sign in to bookmark this

Scope:
Main battle tanks (MBTs), with their unique combination of protection, mobility and firepower, remain a key element of land military manoeuvre, particularly in the context of conventional warfare. Existing MBT fleets in EU Member States and EDF associated countries are ageing, and new MBT technologies need to be developed and their operational effectiveness in all future scenarios thoroughly tested in order to maintain the current technological edge.
This topic therefore aims to follow up and complement previous activities for the development of future MBT systems. These will need to be based on enhanced operational capabilities in all kinds of environments, e.g. in terms of higher multi-spectrum protection and survivability, advanced all-terrain mobility, superior firepower, long-range threat detection and advanced command and control systems, the ability to operate with a reduced crew and, in the future, unmanned, improved logistical sustainability and affordability of manufacturing costs, which are key to the ability to deploy large numbers of platforms in a short time if required.
This topic contributes to the STEP objectives as defined in the STEP Regulation in the target investment area of defence technologies.
Targeted types of activities: Studies, design, system prototyping, testing and qualification, not excluding upstream and downstream activities eligible for development actions.
Indicative budget: EUR 125 000 000 for this topic under the EDF-2026-DA call.
Indicative number of proposals to be funded: One proposal is to be funded for this topic.

Status

Open

Deadline

29 September 2026 (time not stated)

Opens

11 February 2026

Published

11 February 2026

Country

European Union (EU-wide)

Programme

European Defence Fund (EDF)

Funder

European Commission

Official page

Open at the source portal

What applying involves

10 steps, all of them taken from this call's own documents.

Understand the call

• Read the call on the source portal and download its documents
• Write the proposal against the award criteria and thresholds standard for this programme

  described in section 9 of the call document — conditions §5b

• Check the grant's legal and financial set-up standard for this programme

  described in section 10 of the call document . Call document and annexes: Call document Application form templates Standard application form (EDF) — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Detailed budget table (EDF DA) Participant information (EDF) List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF) Cofinancing declaration (EDF DA, DA LS AND ASAP) Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF) Harmonised capability … — conditions §6

Check you are eligible

• Check every partner is established in an eligible country standard for this programme

  described in section 6 of the call document — conditions §2

• Meet the call's other eligibility conditions standard for this programme

  described in section 6 of the call document — conditions §3

• Be able to show financial and operational capacity standard for this programme

  described in section 7 of the call document — conditions §4

Prepare the documents

• Prepare Part B of the Application Form standard for this programme

  Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. — conditions

• Complete the detailed budget table standard for this programme

Submit

• Check the submission and evaluation process

  described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual — conditions §5a

• Submit before the closing date shown above

  The source states the closing day but no closing time — check the portal before the last day. — calls.deadline

Sign in to track these

Other calls under European Defence Fund (EDF)

• Key electronic componentsOpen · deadline 16 February 2027 · European Union (EU-wide)
• Platforms and end-productsOpen · deadline 16 February 2027 · European Union (EU-wide)
• Air and missile defence systemsOpen · deadline 16 February 2027 · European Union (EU-wide)
• C5ISR and other space-related productsOpen · deadline 16 February 2027 · European Union (EU-wide)
• Unmanned systems and counter-unmanned systemsOpen · deadline 16 February 2027 · European Union (EU-wide) · €80,000,000
• Ground and naval platforms and systemsOpen · deadline 16 February 2027 · European Union (EU-wide)
• Support for the functioning of SEAPs, including for the purpose of establishing, managing and maintaining defence industrial readiness poolsForthcoming · deadline 12 November 2026 · European Union (EU-wide) · €10,000,000
• Missiles, ammunition and bombsOpen · deadline 13 October 2026 · European Union (EU-wide) · €180,000,000

All calls under this programme

Similar opportunities

• Future multirole light aircraftOpen · deadline 29 September 2026 · European Union (EU-wide) · same sector, same funder
• Secure digital military mobility systemOpen · deadline 29 September 2026 · European Union (EU-wide) · same sector, same funder
• Ground and naval platforms and systemsOpen · deadline 16 February 2027 · European Union (EU-wide) · same sector, same funder
• Ammunition, missiles and other explosive weaponsOpen · deadline 13 October 2026 · European Union (EU-wide) · same sector, same funder
• Main battle tank platform systemsClosed · deadline 22 November 2023 · European Union (EU-wide) · same sector, same funder
• Modular and multirole patrol corvetteClosed · deadline 22 November 2023 · European Union (EU-wide) · same sector, same funder