Enhanced cognitive EW system with intelligent RESM CESM signal analysis
Develop advanced cognitive electronic warfare systems using AI for rapid threat detection and response in complex military scenarios.
This call seeks projects to develop smarter electronic warfare systems that use AI and machine learning. These systems will detect and respond to multiple threats quickly in crowded electromagnetic environments. The goal is to improve military operations by automating threat detection and response, reducing reliance on human operators.
Likely relevant for
- Defence technology developers
- AI and machine learning researchers
- Electronic warfare system integrators
- Military technology innovators
- Sensor technology developers
Project signals
What it funds
- Development and integration of cognitive electronic warfare systems
- Use of AI and machine learning for EW threat detection and neutralisation
- Studies and design activities related to EW systems
- Upstream and downstream activities eligible under development actions
Expected outcomes
- Robust and operational cognitive EW system
- Automated threat detection and response capabilities
- Improved response time in critical military situations
- Contribution to STEP objectives in deep and digital technologies
Who can apply / participate
- Research organisations
- Defence industry companies
- Consortia including SMEs and large enterprises
- Academic institutions with relevant expertise
- Check call document for consortium composition rules
- Eligible countries as per call document section 6
- Must comply with EDF programme eligibility criteria
- Exact consortium size and composition requirements
- Specific country eligibility details
Must check before shortlisting
- Eligibility criteria in call document section 6
- Consortium requirements and country eligibility
- Specific technical scope alignment with cognitive EW
Money
EUR 24 million allocated for this topic under EDF-2026-DA call.
- Total indicative budget — 24000000EURIndicative budget for this topic only.
Application notes
- Single-stage submission model.
- Proposal page limits and layout as per call document section 5 and application form Part B.
- Eligibility and admissibility conditions detailed in call document sections 6 and 7.
- Evaluation criteria and award process described in call document section 8 and 9.
- Legal and financial set-up as per call document section 10.
- Prepare proposal following call document and application form templates.
- Submit proposal via Funding & Tenders Portal before deadline.
- Ensure compliance with admissibility and eligibility conditions.
- Contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu for support if needed.
- Check call document for detailed eligibility and consortium rules.
- Ensure proposal aligns with scope and objectives of the call.
- Budget and funding rates must be verified in call documents.
Derived from official EU Funding portal source · updated 7 Jul 2026, 12:13 UTC. Use this as a shortlisting aid; the official call text remains authoritative.
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Official source text
Fine print from the EU source record. Expand when you need the original wording.
Topic description
Scope: The increasing complexity of military operations requires more advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems capable of dealing with multiple threats and operating in electromagnetic congested scenarios. Current solutions are partially effective and require the complex integration of different sensors and frequency bands. As a result, there is a growing need for automated EW systems that can rapidly identify and respond to threats, especially given the limited availability of qualified personnel. To meet this challenge, this topic aims to further develop and integrate technologies to develop a more robust, cognitive and operational EW system. Cognitive EW systems that use AI and machine learning can detect, learn and interact with the environment, accelerating the development and implementation of next-generation EW threat detection, suppression and neutralisation technologies. These systems can interpret large amounts of data from multiple sources, operate autonomously and provide faster and better-quality data, ultimately automating system decisions and improving response time in critical situations. Beyond defence technologies, this topic also contributes to the STEP objectives as defined in the STEP Regulation in the target investment area of deep and digital technologies. Targeted types of activities: Studies and design, not excluding upstream and downstream activities eligible for development actions. Indicative budget: EUR 24 000 000 for this topic under the EDF-2026-DA call. Indicative number of proposals to be funded: One proposal is to be funded for this topic. However, depending on the quality of the proposals submitted and the budget available, more than one proposal may ultimately be funded for this topic.
Conditions and documents
Conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in section 5 of the call document.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries
described in section 6 of the call document.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
described in section 6 of the call document.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in section 7 of the call document.
5a. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
described section 8 of the call document and the Online Manual.
5b. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
described in section 9 of the call document.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in section 4 of the call document.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
described in section 10 of the call document.
Call document and annexes:
Application form templates
Standard application form (EDF) — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Detailed budget table (EDF DA)
List of infrastructure, facilities, assets and resources (EDF)
Cofinancing declaration (EDF DA, DA LS AND ASAP)
Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF)
Harmonised capability declaration (EDF DA AND DA LS)
Declaration on procurement intent and common specifications (EDF DA AND DA LS)
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Additional documents:
EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI)
Guidelines on FSTP implementation - WP2026
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support information
For help related to this call, please contact DEFIS-EDF-PROPOSALS@ec.europa.eu Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – Submission of proposals . IT Helpdesk – Contact the IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc. Online Manual – Step-by-step online guide through the Portal processes from proposal preparation and evaluation to reporting on your ongoing project. Valid for all 2021-2027 programmes.
Raw budget overview
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