Stand-off anti-submarine warfare engagement

The main goal of this opportunity is to advance innovative technologies that allow surface warships to detect and neutralize enemy submarines from a safe distance, beyond the range of enemy weapons. The initiative seeks to lower development risks and speed up the introduction of these new capabilities. It also aims to encourage investment from the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). Focus areas include studying long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW) engagement technologies, assessing the use of unmanned aerial and surface vehicles for deploying ASW tools, and analyzing the cost-effectiveness and optimal designs for such systems.

• Projects must generate or integrate knowledge, conduct feasibility studies, or design new or improved defense products or technologies.
• Proposals should define a preliminary system design and outline a demonstration plan for long-range ASW capability.
• Projects must investigate combinations of sensors, delivery systems, and effectors to engage submerged threats at ranges over 40 nautical miles.
• Mandatory tasks include feasibility studies on relevant technologies, exploration of UAV/USV deployment methods, evaluation of existing capabilities, cost-benefit and market analysis, and a technology roadmap.
• Proposals must comply with the page limits and formatting specified in the application guidelines.

Examples:

• A project designing a new lightweight torpedo that can be launched from unmanned aerial vehicles to target submarines at long distances.
• A feasibility study comparing underwater sensor suites for detecting and tracking enemy submarines beyond 40 nautical miles.
• An integrated system proposal that uses both unmanned surface and aerial vehicles to deploy ASW effectors and gather data for optimal engagement.

• Costs for activities that generate new knowledge or improve existing defense technologies.
• Expenses related to integrating knowledge to boost interoperability and resilience.
• Costs for feasibility studies on new or improved products, technologies, processes, or solutions.
• Design costs for defense products, components, or technologies, including technical specifications and partial risk-reduction tests.
• Feasibility studies on long-range ASW engagement technologies, such as lightweight torpedoes or underwater sensor suites.
• Expenses for exploring the use of UAVs and USVs to deploy ASW effectors.
• Cost-benefit and market analysis related to the proposed technologies.

Note: Expenses for system prototyping, testing, qualification, and certification are not eligible.

• Budget for the grant: 20,000,000€

• Applicants must follow all requirements described in the call document's application guidelines.
• Applicants must demonstrate adequate financial and operational capacity.
• Exclusion criteria, as outlined in the call document, apply.
• Proposals must respect page limits and formatting rules.
• Eligibility may depend on the involvement of entities from EU Member States or EDF Associated Countries.
• Partnerships or consortiums may be required, as referenced in the application guidelines.