Self-protection systems

Open

This is the status published by the official source.

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Scope:
The aim of this topic is to follow up and complement previous activities in the field of the next generation self-protection systems in order to increase the survivability of fixed wing and rotary wing, combat or non-combat aircraft in hostile environments.
This topic is aimed at modular integration with both fixed and rotary wing aircraft, providing protection against direct and indirect threats based on open architecture and international standards, while protecting sensitive data and ensuring compatibility with other platforms. Key features include automatic coordination of countermeasures, threat detection and classification, and the ability to operate in complex environments. For indirect threats, the system should gather intelligence, disrupt enemy tracking and enable collaborative protection with other platforms.
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: Design, system prototyping, testing and qualification, not excluding upstream and downstream activities eligible for development actions.
Indicative budget: EUR 24 000 000 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. However, depending on the quality of the proposals submitted and the budget available, more than one proposal may ultimately 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

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