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EUROPEAN DEFENCE FUND – Development actions implemented through actual cost grants (accelerated call) – 2026

EDF – The European Defence Fund aims at promoting cooperation among companies and research actors of all sizes and geographic origin in the Union, in research and development of state-of-the-art and interoperable defence technology and equipment.

2026-09-29
100 million euros
Open

Call synthesis

Call reference EDF-2026-DA-ACC
Programme EUROPEAN DEFENCE FUND
Institution European Commission
Sectors Aeronautics & Space Justice, Security, Defence Research & Innovation Technology & Digital
Beneficiaries Association & NGO Large company (> 250 employees) Research centre & university Smes & Start-Ups (< 249 Employees) State administration & affiliated entities

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Call reference

EDF-2026-DA-ACC



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Priorities and funded actions

Objectives

  • To follow up and complement previous activities for the development of an endo-atmospheric interceptor by maturing key technologies
  • To contribute to the ongoing related initiatives at EU level to reach at least TRL 6 at system level by 2030 for the interceptor
  • To contribute and support a future preliminary design review of the full interceptor system

Among financed actions

  • Activities that aim to increase interoperability and resilience to strengthen the security of supply or to enable the effective exploitation of results for defence products and technologies
  • Studies
  • Design of a defence product
  • System prototyping of a defence product
  • Testing of a defence product
  • Qualification of a defence product
  • Certification of a defence product
  • Development of technologies or assets increasing efficiency across the life cycle of defence products and technologies

 

Eligibility

  • Be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • Be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • Non-EU countries:
  • Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register before submitting the proposal.
  • A consortium composed of minimum 3 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries must be constituted.

Additional information

  • Contact: DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu

Useful

Financement
  • Total budget of the call: 100 million euros
  • Amount of the grant: must not exceed the budget available for the topic

The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

  • Funding rate: between 20% and 100% of the total eligible costs