EU Earmarks €1B For Defense Research Programs

The European Union (EU) says it will spend €1.07 billion ($1.26 billion) to fund 57 defense development projects, including funding for loitering munitions, space-based rendezvous and proximity operations, and other activities. The funding is part of the solicitation issued last year under the European Defense Fund initiative, the European Commission (EC), the EU’s executive arm, said April 15. In large part, the funding supports four EU flagship defense projects: the European Drone Defense Initiative, the Eastern Flank Watch, the European Air Shield and the European Space Shield. Among the drone-related projects the EU is looking to finance is the Drone-based Scalable Tactical Operations Responsive Munitions, an effort to develop mass-producible loitering munitions and uncrewed combat systems. The EU would provide €9.8 million in backing to the €12.4 million combat aerial systems effort led by MBDA’s Italian unit. Similarly, it would back the European Drone-Based Affordable Mass Munitions effort led by Frankenburg Technologies to work on pairing drones with affordable missiles. Another roughly €10 million would go into a program to develop next-Generation autonomous, low-cost, mass-producible uncrewed systems, called Lumina. The EU is also looking to support the development of a 300-kg (660-lb.) heavy-lift UAV for resupply in contested environments. In the space arena, the EU is planning to put €48 million into the Asimov on-orbit servicing program to refuel, repair, and protect spacecraft. The 36-month project is led by Leonardo. Another €65 million is being allocated to space-based persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance efforts, supporting an Airbus-led €83.6 million program looking to deliver very short revisit periods.