Deadline Date: September 29, 2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications to develop automated air-to-air refuelling systems that enhance safety and reduce workload for manned and unmanned aircraft on long-range missions.
The focus areas, include enhancing military operations through automated air-to-air refuelling; reducing manual workload and improving safety for tanker and receiver crews; enabling autonomous refuelling for future unmanned aerial systems; developing sensor systems with advanced hardware and sensor fusion to enable accurate relative navigation between tanker, receiver, and refuelling systems; improving optical sensors and image processing technologies; advancing flight control algorithms; designing pilot assistance and supervision interfaces; increasing safety and time efficiency in docking and refuelling processes; integrating knowledge, studies, and design activities while allowing upstream research actions; and contributing to STEP objectives in defence technologies.
This call topic aims to address the challenges of current manual refuelling operations by exploring technologies that allow precise navigation and coordination between aircraft in various environmental conditions. Accurate relative positioning and sensor fusion are central to enabling safe and efficient autonomous refuelling.
Enhanced optical sensors and advanced image processing will support real-time monitoring and guidance during docking and fuel transfer. Flight control algorithms and pilot assistance interfaces will ensure smooth operations while reducing the cognitive load on human operators.
The initiative targets both manned and future unmanned aircraft, ensuring that autonomous refuelling capabilities can support extended military missions in remote areas. By integrating cutting-edge sensor technologies and control systems, the project seeks to improve operational safety and efficiency.
The indicative budget for this topic is EUR 20,000,000, within an overall budget of EUR 110,000,000. Eligible applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States, including overseas countries and territories, or in listed EEA countries and EDF-associated countries. Applicants must have their executive management structure in eligible countries and must not be controlled by non-associated third countries unless approved guarantees are provided.
For more information, visit European Commission.
