European Commission invests 910 million euros to boost European defence

The European Commission is investing 910 million euros under the 2024 edition of the European Defence Fund (EDF) to develop the defence industry in Europe. These investments aim to close key capability gaps—like force mobility and drone defence—through innovation and collaboration across European science and industry. Moreover, and for the first time, Ukrainian defence industries can be associated to EDF projects.

These EDF investments will boost Europe’s defence industry, in line with the Commission’s ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 to strengthen pan-European defence capabilities, and the Joint White Paper on European Defence Readiness 2030, framing a new approach to defence and identifying investment needs.

With a budget of €7.3 billion for 2021-2027, the EDF is the EU’s primary instrument to support defence R&D cooperation. It fosters collaboration among companies of all sizes and research institutions across the EU and Norway.

A dedicated €45 million from this year’s investment supports disruptive technologies, designed to significantly alter or replace existing defence products, concepts and capabilities, often by introducing simplicity, convenience, accessibility, or cost-effectiveness. Nine of the selected projects aim at delivering disruptive technologies, such as project METASTEALTH, which is developing next-generation stealth materials.

Newly selected projects also include Ukraine’s Small UAS, which focuses on developing advanced, AI-driven aerial systems. Other examples include the ENGRTII project, which unites more than 45 industrial players and research organisations to develop the next generation European rotorcraft by 2030.