Deadline Date: September 29, 2026
The European Commission is funding the development of advanced self-protection systems to enhance the survivability of fixed-wing and rotary-wing, combat and non-combat aircraft in hostile environments.
The focus areas of this initiative include modular integration with both fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, protection against direct and indirect threats, adherence to open architecture and international standards, safeguarding sensitive data, and ensuring compatibility with other platforms. Key objectives involve automatic coordination of countermeasures, threat detection and classification, operational capability in complex environments, intelligence gathering against indirect threats, disruption of enemy tracking, and collaborative protection with other platforms. The project contributes to the STEP objectives within the target investment area of defence technologies, and targeted activities cover design, system prototyping, testing, qualification, and eligible upstream and downstream development actions.
The general objective of the next generation self-protection systems is to increase aircraft survivability in evolving hostile conditions by addressing a heterogeneous spectrum of threats. Systems are expected to prioritize operational risks, select appropriate reaction modes via a network of distributed sensors and actuators across platforms, and be reconfigurable and scalable according to mission and platform requirements. Additionally, systems should possess self-adaptive capabilities based on real-time scenario monitoring and asset availability, leveraging modern technologies including artificial intelligence to enhance operational effectiveness.
The specific objective emphasizes addressing high-intensity scenarios, taking lessons from ongoing conflicts such as in Ukraine, and improving current self-protection capabilities for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms. Threats include surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles with varied guidance systems, hostile fires, and rapidly evolving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Building on prior work under the EDIDP and EDF frameworks, the project seeks to further develop cooperative and innovative self-protection systems by conducting prototype tests for sensor and effector integration, and performing the necessary studies to identify certification requirements for deployment on any aircraft type.
With a total funding envelope of EUR 422,000,000 and an indicative budget of EUR 24,000,000 allocated for this specific topic under the EDF-2026-DA call, the initiative supports eligible participants established in EU Member States and associated countries, including both public and private legal entities, while ensuring control remains within eligible jurisdictions.
For more information, visit EC.
