Despite the extensive use of COTS UAS in recent conflicts and continued technological development, these systems serve the purpose of rapid and relatively low-cost deployment of assets and effectors in times of extreme need. As with all such systems, there is a lack of key requirements and an overall development and sustainability frameworks that meets the real needs of defence users at the tactical level in the EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries. It should be noted, however, that large UAS are always challenging to operate due to their specific needs, e.g., regarding facilities, maintenance and support.

Anticipated advances in miniaturisation and communication protocols are likely to provide sufficient ground for improvements in the area of small UAS for defence applications and their associated payloads, including weapons, without the stringent need for large UAS. Such activities are embedded in very promising prospects for further industrial and operational development.

Against this background, this topic aims to have a direct impact on the tactical operational effectiveness of armed forces in multi-domain operations (air, land and maritime). In addition, the outcome of this topic is also expected to improve the intervention capacity of relevant national or European agencies.

Specific objective

In particular, this topic intends to contribute to address the following specific challenges that small UAS are prone to:

• Low UAS signatures and extended operational ranges;
• Operate autonomously and automatic, including with assisted piloting considerations;
• Miniaturisation of sensors and payloads, including potential weapons and communication systems;
• Operational capability and survivability in contested, congested and challenging (e.g., weather) airspace.

Scope:

Proposals must address the development of a small UAS with advanced ISTAR capabilities, such as real-time imagery intelligence, and possibly kinetic capabilities, capable of operating in support of the widest possible range of military operations.

In addition, proposals should address the development of a multi-role approach that explores compatibility between different payloads and configurations, in particular through an Interoperable Modular and Scalable Architecture (IMOSA) approach to allow interchangeability of components and interoperability between different solutions, including a “plug and play” capability for sensors and possible effectors.

As the small UAS cannot support sets of different sensors due to weight, space and power limitations, the possibility of standard interfaces should be explored to allow the selection and integration of a variety of specific sensors to be used in different configurations depending on the mission, and to facilitate the use in defence, civil and dual-use configurations.

In addition, proposals may also address the potential synergy for use by law enforcement and other governmental use.

Types of activities

The following table lists the types of activities which are eligible for this topic, and whether they are mandatory or optional (see Article 10(3) EDF Regulation):

Accordingly, the proposals must cover at least the following tasks as part of mandatory studies activities:

• Develop integration with Combat Management System (CMS) in line with a common standard protocols (e.g. foreseen NATO STANAG 4817).
• Study electromagnetic compatibility in order to integrate the system in a combat system without interferences

The proposals must substantiate synergies and complementarities with foreseen, ongoing or completed activities in the field of small and tactical RPAS, notably those described in the call topic EDIDP-ISR-TRPAS-2019 related to Development of a low-observable tactical RPAS with the capability to provide near real time information and with modern self-protection and in the call topic EDF-2023-DA-C4ISR-TRPAS related to Tactical RPAS.

Moreover:

• projects addressing activities referred to in point (d) above must be based on harmonised defence capability requirements jointly agreed by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries (or, if studies within the meaning of point (c) are still needed to define the requirements, at least on the joint intent to agree on them)
• projects addressing activities referred to in points (e) to (h) above, must be:
  • supported by at least two Member States or EDF associated countries that intend to procure the final product or use the technology in a coordinated manner, including through joint procurement

and

• • based on common technical specifications jointly agreed by the Member States or EDF associated countries that are to co-finance the action or that intend to jointly procure the final product or to jointly use the technology (or, if design within the meaning of point (d) is still needed to define the specifications, at least on the joint intent to agree on them).

For more information, please check section 6.

Functional requirements

The proposed product and technologies may elaborate on mature and already proven solutions, when available and applicable, and should meet the following functional requirements:

• Performance requirements: The prototyped new small UAS platform should:
  • Be of Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) type, while being:
    • Able to take-off and land automatically in a conscripted area with its own means (i.e., without using external equipment such as net or catapult), e.g., from and to a ship single spot flight deck;
    • Compatible with the performance characteristics of a fixed-wing aircraft, especially regarding speed, range, and endurance, during cruise phases and in over-target flight, meaning:
      • An operational autonomy of at least 10 hours;
      • An operational range of at least 200 km Line Of Sight (LOS);
      • A cruising speed of at least 50 kts.
• • Be equipped with sustainable propulsion system/powertrain, possibly using alternative fuel (e.g., electric propulsion, heavy fuel (JP5) engine, multi fuel engine);
  • Have a reduced acoustic signature to limit detection, recognition and direction finding of the small UAS;
  • Sustain steady winds ≥25 knots with gust of 30 kts;
  • Fly in moderate rain conditions ≥ 5 mm/h;
  • Be able to operate in a temperature range between -20°C and +49°C;
  • Be able to carry a payload of up to 20kg with structural mounting points by design;
  • Be compliant with IP 66 standard;
  • Include a plug and play capability in order to provide flexibility to users.
• Airspace integration: The system should be designed and equipped to enable safe deconfliction, transit and operations BLoS in non-segregated airspace.
• Airworthiness: The system, including its design, development and construction, should be compliant with applicable standards with a view to future certification.
• Operational requirements: The system should:
  • Have an automated mission profile, configured in real-time, before and during flight;
• • Have an autonomous flight mode, where the UA could adapt its flight path and take decisions based on the sensing of the environment/scenario;
  • Have a fly-by-wire assisted flight mode where a human pilot can intervene using a pilot console;
• • Be capable of automatically taking-off and landing, using its own means;
  • Include a Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) capability;
  • Be able to operate in swarming formations;
  • Be resilient to cyber-attacks;
  • Be operated via a control station with the smallest footprint possible;
  • Be aero transportable by and launched from e.g., light transport aircraft;
  • Have a very reduced logistic footprint;
  • Have the smallest crew for operation possible, considering the remote crew (i.e., remote pilots, systems, cameras and datalink operators), take-off and landing support crew, assistance crew;
• • Control and monitoring unit software should allow e.g., but not limited to, geofencing, automatic NOTAM creation based on requested flight area, input/upload of areas of interest or limitation (e.g., NOTAM or area of operation), PoI in the MAP, the map layers should be always updated and allow for military and civil maps and charts, the waypoint type navigation should draw the actual flight path of the UAS.
• Survivability: The developed small UAS should be able to operate in a contested environment with enemy anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) capabilities, in particular UAS with return and pickup considerations, e.g., via increased protection on the UAS, redundancy and low signatures.
• Optical gyro-stabilised spread spectrum multi-sensor: A multi-spectrum sensor suite for small UAS should be capable of visualising, geo-referencing, and tracking multiple moving points of interest (POIs) in adverse weather and visibility conditions.
• Improved sensing and ISR and targeting systems:
  • The system should include radar sensors SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) and LIDAR (Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging);
• • The development of smaller and more precise systems for ISR and targeting, as well as direction of indirect fires, should be addressed;
  • The system should include electro-optical, infrared (IR) sensors and target illumination (e.g., laser pointer, buddy lasing) capabilities;
  • The system should be able to auto-track fixed and moving targets and support the overall targeting cycle;
  • The system should provide IMINT support to land forces.
• Communications:
  • The development of wideband BLoS communications for Small UAS (WB BLOS LEO) combined with Advanced Beamforming LoS with Direction Finding Capabilities, based on the new constellations for LEO satellite communications, should be addressed;
• • The system should be equipped with:
    • Radio receiver and transmitter;
    • An integral Communications sub-system for BLoS UAS C4I datalinks and telemetry transmission;
    • An aerial communications relay and mesh network node payload to enhance or facilitate communications between other ground-based users;
    • An IFF Mode 5/S and ADS-B transponder aerial identification device that can be switched according to operational needs.
• Artificial Intelligence / machine learning for autonomous and assisted piloting:
  • The development of an intelligent module on the ground station / control and monitoring unit to process big amounts of data into actionable intelligent information should be addressed, as small UAS can incorporate a limited processing capacity.
  • The system should be capable of flying in manual and automatic modes for flight plans and waypoints, with an autopilot capable of maintaining orbital trajectories while observing points, and automatic take-off and landing capability (including safe landing in case of emergency situations).
• The solution developed should be capable of swarming operations, acting in a coordinated way and controlled by a single control and monitoring unit.
• Interoperability: The developed solution should be interoperable with common standards in force, such as JISR standards (e.g., NATO STANAG 4559), UAV interoperability standards (e.g., NATO STANAG 4586) and C4I interoperability standards.
• The proposed solution should be affordable by design, in terms of acquisition and lifecycle costs, including the overall operating, logistics and maintenance costs.
• Electronic warfare: The system may include:
  • VHF/UHF jammer capability;
  • Small jammer disposal capability;
  • Automated hold and track of an electromagnetic source.
• Supply carrier and precision delivery: The system may include the following capabilities:
  • Airborne launched capability;
  • Automated delivery of cargo;
  • Beacon capability for discoverability.
• Miniaturised weaponry: The development of miniaturised weapons may be considered to eventually get weapon-capable small UAS, hence paving the way for a solution to develop small kinetic capability against e.g., lightly armoured targets, including e.g., loitering munitions, small calibre guided missiles and small calibre torpedoes.
• CBRN surveillance: The developed small UAS may be able to have a standoff or remote CBRN detector as a payload to allow remote detection of CBRN threats, alerting the unit to the proximity of a contaminated threat and allowing time to take protective action.

Expected Impact:

The outcome is expected to contribute to:

• Reduce dependencies on non-European suppliers by boosting the EDTIB and promoting the development of a European solution.
• The emergence of a commonly agreed EU standard for small UAS to allow a wider European application, interchangeability of sensors and modules, together with adaptability to various types of missions.
• Define commonly agreed EU defence requirements for small UAS.
• Reduce the current dependencies on non-European UAS suppliers.
• Reduce the fragmentation of UAS fleets in European armed forces and reduce the procurement and maintenance costs through economies of scale.
• Promote the interoperability between European armed forces.
• Foster an active European market for the development of interoperable and interchangeable sensors.
• Exploit the synergy with other than defence applications.