Deadline: 29-Sep-2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications to develop and qualify an enhanced medium-sized semi-autonomous surface vessel to support strengthened coastal defence and flexible multi-mission naval operations in littoral environments.
The initiative focuses on advancing medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels into flexible, fast-moving platforms adaptable to littoral conditions and future naval warfare missions. It prioritises integrated ISR and ASuW capabilities, modular mission integration including SBW, ASW, NMW and NMCM modules, semi-autonomous and remote operation with human-on-the-loop control, reduced manning, dual-use and commercial technology integration to lower costs, AI-enabled collaborative operations with multi-domain drones, offshore logistics concepts, and contribution to the STEP objectives in defence technologies.
The indicative budget for this topic under the call is EUR 90,000,000, forming part of an overall budget of EUR 422,000,000 allocated to the call. Eligible participants must be legal entities established in EU Member States, EDF-associated countries, or EEA countries, with executive management in eligible countries and not controlled by non-associated third countries unless approved guarantees are provided.
This call follows up on previous EDF-supported activities in the field of medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels. It aims to review earlier concepts and designs while enabling new design, prototyping, testing, and qualification activities for an enhanced medium-sized semi-autonomous surface (EMSAS) vessel. The platform should be capable of hosting multiple mission modules and operating effectively in complex littoral environments.
Semi-autonomy includes the option for remote operation of both the vessel and its mission modules, while autonomy allows operation under human-on-the-loop supervision, including onboard self-protection systems. Onboard human control solutions must be available for non-permanent use in no-threat conditions, with a focus on reduced manning. Dual-use technologies and commercial applications should be prioritised to optimise cost efficiency.
Proposals must address the evolution of the vessel platform, including full physical and logical integration of mission modules and solutions for remote monitoring and control. A detailed design and prototype of the EMSAS vessel with integrated ISR and ASuW capabilities is required, along with prototypes of SBW and ASW mission modules. Testing and qualification of the vessel and modules as a complete system are mandatory. Initial design activities up to preliminary design review are required for a mission module related to NMW, while progress should also consider NMCM modules, collaborative drone operations supported by AI, and offshore logistics concepts.
For more information, visit European Commission.
