Objectives

This accelerated EDF development call covers a single topic on high-end endo-atmospheric interception. Air superiority remains one of the EU capability development priorities identified in the revised 2023 Capability Development Plan, including A2AD and ballistic missile defence capability shortfalls. The emergence of manoeuvring ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles represents an additional challenge for European and NATO ground- and naval-based air defence systems. Against this background, the call aims to follow up and complement previous activities for the development of an endo-atmospheric interceptor by maturing key technologies required to successfully counter hypersonic and ballistic threats up to TRL 6. It should build on specific concept designs and advance the required technologies by developing dedicated demonstrators, for example for airframe, propulsion, platform separation, lethality, threat tracking and acquisition.

The action is expected to contribute to ongoing related initiatives at EU level to reach at least TRL 6 at system level by 2030 for the interceptor and to build on the results obtained under previous concept phases. It should also contribute and support a future preliminary design review of the full interceptor system, paving the way for a future development and industrialisation phase, ideally from 2030 onwards, including qualification and certification. The call therefore seeks to strengthen Europe’s ability to intercept and defeat current and emerging post-2030 ballistic and cruise missile threats through a European capability based on an endo-atmospheric air defence effector. The topic contributes to the STEP objectives in the target investment area of defence technologies.

Actions

This call covers the following topics:

EDF-2026-DA-ACC-AIRDEF-EATMI: High-end endo-atmospheric interception