The Digital Ship and Naval Combat Cloud (DSNCC) aims to bridge the technological gap between commercial digital advancements and naval forces' operational capabilities. By fostering the adoption of a unified digital ship architecture, this initiative seeks to enhance interoperability, resilience, and mission efficiency across various naval platforms.

The primary objective is to design, prototype, and test a digital platform as a foundational EU-based infrastructure framework for integrating different ship operation systems (SOTS). Furthermore, the project will initiate the design of a multidomain naval combat cloud, providing an interconnected environment for collaborative naval operations across surface, sub-surface, and aerial domains.

Key areas of focus include improving the speed and efficiency of decision-making cycles (OODA loop), predictive operational capabilities, system availability and reliability, and cost-effectiveness over the vessel’s lifecycle. The initiative emphasizes cybersecurity by incorporating advanced security models such as Zero-Trust Security.

The scope of the call encompasses defining necessary services for SOTS integration, designing a comprehensive digital architecture, identifying key interoperability standards, building and testing prototypes, and developing a scalable naval combat cloud concept.

Eligible activities include studies, feasibility analyses, system design, prototyping, testing, and optional activities such as certification and qualification.

The anticipated outcomes of the initiative include enhanced real-time collaboration across naval assets, reduced lifecycle costs of naval systems, and increased strategic autonomy of European naval capabilities. The project also aims to optimize communication protocols and create a standardized digital architecture for EU naval forces.

Opening: 18.02.2025
Deadline(s): 16.10.2025