This draft European Defence Fund (EDF) 2026 Development Action topic addresses a major EU capability shortfall in air superiority, specifically anti-access/area denial (A2AD) and ballistic missile defence (BMD), as highlighted in the revised 2023 Capability Development Plan. The emergence of manoeuvring ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles (including air-launched variants), and hypersonic glide vehicles creates new challenges for European and NATO ground- and naval-based air defence systems. Against this background, the call aims to leverage existing EU knowledge and technologies in weapon systems and missile design to mature a European endo-atmospheric air defence effector (interceptor) capable of intercepting and defeating current and emerging post-2030 ballistic and cruise missile threats.

The specific objectives are threefold. First, the action should follow up and complement prior EDF activities on endo-atmospheric interceptor development by maturing key technologies needed to counter hypersonic and ballistic threats. It is expected to build on initial concept designs and advance technologies through dedicated demonstrators. Second, the action should contribute to EU-level initiatives so that the interceptor reaches at least TRL 6 at system level by 2030, building on results from previous concept phases under earlier call topics. Third, it should contribute to and support a future preliminary design review (PDR) of the full interceptor system, paving the way for a later development and industrialisation phase—ideally from 2030 onwards—covering qualification and certification.

The scope requires two complementary pillars executed in parallel. One pillar focuses on technology maturation to achieve at least TRL 5 for the different system components and critical technologies. The other pillar focuses on the preliminary definition of the interceptor system, including assessment activities of the main critical technologies identified. Together, these parallel pillars are intended to deliver decisive progress on the concept maturation for a counter-hypersonic and ballistic threats interceptor and to prepare the ground for a future preliminary design review.

Technology maturation must cover at least the following critical components and technologies: kill-vehicle flight; on-board terminal guidance sensors; platform separation; stage separation; interceptor aerodynamics; propulsion; guidance, navigation and control; weapon system battle lab simulation; and lethality. In addition, proposals should address maturation of data link technologies.

Mandatory activities include studies, design, system prototyping, and testing. In the preliminary definition (study) phase, proposals must review common user requirements (considering ongoing EU initiatives and results from previous calls), review the interceptor’s initial technical requirements specification, and prepare a preliminary Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) oriented toward achieving TRL 6 at system level from 2030 onwards and TRL 9 from 2035 onwards. In the design phase, proposals must reassess and simulate the interceptor functional chain to identify boundaries and shortfalls, define cyber security requirements, provide a preliminary safety plan at system level, draft a preliminary maintenance plan and integrated logistic support approach, develop the preliminary interceptor design and select technological options at subsystem level, conduct a System Requirements Review (SRR), specify and design subsystem-level demonstrators, conduct ready-to-test reviews for the most critical components, conduct a preliminary System Functional Review (SFR), and provide a System Engineering Plan (SEP) supporting the TRL 6 (2030+) and TRL 9 (2035+) objectives.

Within the technology maturation phase, the project must develop technology demonstrators to reach at least TRL 5 for key elements including the kill vehicle, terminal guidance sensors, platform and stage separation, aerodynamics, propulsion, guidance/navigation/control, and lethality. System prototyping must address at least the following subsystems/functions: separation from naval and ground platforms, stage separation, propulsion across booster/mid-course/terminal phases, on-board sensors (IR and/or RF technologies and algorithms), interceptor aerodynamics across stages, lethality (enhanced warhead and safety arming/disarming device), and kill vehicle flight control devices. In addition, the project must build a battle lab simulator supporting at least engagement planning kill chain, performance assessment, threat tracking and acquisition. Testing must include battle lab simulations, delivery of test plans and success criteria for the demonstrators, execution of tests to reach at least TRL 5 for the components/technologies, and production of trial reports. Further (recommended) tasks include demonstrators for data links, additional propulsion prototyping (including thrust vector control if necessary), preliminary activities towards a system demonstrator at least TRL 6 by 2030, and additional lethality trials (fragment generation and penetration at relative velocity).

Proposals must demonstrate synergies and complementarities with ongoing or completed activities under EDF-2021-AIRDEF-D-EATMI and/or EDF-2023-DA-DS-AIRDEF-EATMI. Functional requirements emphasise versatility against both ballistic missiles (including highly manoeuvrable ones) and emerging hypersonic threats; high manoeuvrability across different altitudes; high average speed to protect large areas (with sensor-suite balance at the 2035+ horizon); compatibility with legacy launchers; interoperability with existing surface-based air and missile defence (SBAMD) and NATO’s integrated air and missile defence system (NATINAMDS); high-speed/long-range connectivity between fire control, sensors and effectors; compatible radar-suite roadmap integration; and integration with launcher/platform C2 functions.

Expected impacts include strengthening EU and Member State defence and security interests linked to the 2023 Capability Development Plan, contributing to the European integrated air and missile defence priority, and reinforcing Europe’s resilience and technological sovereignty.

Opening: 22.01.2026
Deadline(s): 29.09.2026