This draft European Defence Fund (EDF) 2026 Development Action topic targets the study, design, prototyping, testing and qualification of an enhanced medium-sized semi-autonomous surface (EMSAS) vessel with multi-mission capabilities, tailored primarily for littoral (coastal) environments but adaptable to broader naval warfare missions. It complements and follows up earlier EDF activities on medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels, specifically revisiting concepts and designs developed under EDF-2022-DA-NAVAL-MSAS and extending them with new platform and mission-module development.
The overall aim is to deliver a flexible, fast-moving platform that can host interchangeable mission modules to improve coastal defence capabilities. Within this call, “medium-sized” is understood as a vessel capable of hosting the designed mission modules. “Semi-autonomy” refers to the option to remotely operate the platform and the onboard mission module, while “autonomy” refers to operating the platform and mission module with a human-on-the-loop—including self-protection weapons onboard. Given constraints linked to certain use cases, safety and security considerations, and non-permissive electromagnetic environments, the EMSAS vessel must incorporate onboard solutions for human control. These are intended for non-permanent use in no-threat conditions, with reduced manning as a guiding principle. Where feasible, the topic prioritises dual-use technologies and items, emphasising the integration of commercial applications to reduce overall costs.
The call’s specific objectives include enabling new design, prototyping, testing and qualification activities for an EMSAS platform with integrated Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities, as well as mission modules. Mission modules to be addressed are: (a) seabed warfare (SBW) (design, prototyping, testing and qualification); (b) anti-submarine warfare (ASW) (design, prototyping, testing and qualification); (c) naval mine warfare (NMW) (initial design until Preliminary Design Review, PDR); and (d) naval mine countermeasures (NMCM) (initial design until PDR, optional).
The scope requires proposals to cover the evolution of the medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessel, including autonomy and solutions for full physical and logical integration of mission modules and for remote monitoring and control. Applicants must deliver the detailed design and prototype of the EMSAS core platform with integrated ISR and ASuW, the detailed design and prototypes of SBW and ASW mission modules, and the testing and qualification of the platform and those modules as a complete system. They must also produce the initial design (to PDR) for an NMW module. Additionally, proposals are encouraged to address collaborative operation concepts involving smaller multi-domain drones with semi-autonomous/autonomous unmanned naval vessels, including enhanced machine-learning/AI tools; conceptual solutions for offshore logistics for unmanned naval vessels; and (optionally) the initial design (to PDR) of an NMCM module.
Mandatory activities under the EDF regulation include studies, design, system prototyping, testing and qualification (with certification optional). Required studies cover, among other topics, autonomy (including COLREG-compliant re-routing algorithms), secure communications and command and control (C2), cyber security and cyber awareness, information/data management (including battle damage), robustness and resilience of mission-critical systems, electronic warfare resilience, navigation resilience aligned with applicable laws at sea, logistic and user package including emergency procedures, emission control for stealth and signature management, performance metrics for operational and logistic support evaluation, and maintenance/supportability planning for maximum operational availability. Further studies build on previous work to explore implications of higher autonomy (IMO degree 4) on larger platforms, consequences of extended unmanned ocean operations (>30 days), and preliminary design of a core platform without manning and accommodation facilities.
Design work must cover the full core platform (autonomy package, remote control station, secure communication suite, cyber security and awareness, integrated ISR and ASuW), full SBW and ASW mission modules and their integration, and the initial NMW module design to PDR. System prototyping must produce the core platform and SBW/ASW mission modules, and include digital twin functionality for lifecycle support including cost management. Testing includes component and system integration plus harbour and sea trials in scenario-based environments (including congested, confined and shallow waters, and maintenance procedures). Qualification must assess the maturity of the whole EMSAS vessel and prototyped mission modules for operational use.
Functional requirements include remote operation from an onshore/offshore control station; semi-autonomous operation with a preference for full autonomous mode enabling 24/7 littoral operations; robust operation in harsh marine environments; and performance targets such as at least 2,000 nautical mile transits at sustained 18 knots and/or 10 days monitored operations at 10 knots, with consideration of minimum 20 knots at maximum RPM. Proposals should consider non-traditional propulsion/energy solutions (e.g., electrical propulsion, AIP, fuel cells, alternate fuels) and optimal integrated energy management. Additional requirements cover deployability (including sealift), reduced signatures and emissions, AI-enabled situational awareness and behavioural analysis, launch-and-recovery for multi-domain unmanned systems, modular energy generation/storage/distribution, a self-defence weapons suite (with human intervention for engagements), resilient positioning in GNSS-denied environments, secure/redundant communications with offline data retention, and robust protection against cyber threats across navigation/control, monitoring, propulsion, UxV launch/recovery, and communications.
Expected impacts include developing an affordable EMSAS vessel class with autonomous capabilities for specific missions, defining new concepts of operations (CONOPS) for autonomous systems, delivering an open and modular architecture for versatility, reducing signatures and environmental footprint, and contributing to a more common certification approach for unmanned surface vessels.
Opening: 22.01.2026
Deadline(s): 29.09.2026
