EDA - Defence Industry Europe

An active electronically scanned array (AESA) is a sophisticated antenna system known as a phased array. It utilises computer control to adjust the direction of its radio wave beam without physically repositioning the antenna and is commonly used in aerial platforms. Launched in July 2021, with funding from the European Commission under the Preparatory Action for Defence Research (PADR), the project European active electronically scanned array with Combined Radar, Electronic Warfare and Communications functions for military applications (CROWN) focuses on the innovative concept of a multifunctional radio frequency (RF) system, which aims at substantially enhancing future defence capabilities, with specific focus on AESA for manned and unmanned aerial platforms.

EDA: CROWN project delivers a step towards a European multifunction AESA system

On 26-27 February, the eleven consortium members concluded 32-months of work on the CROWN project during the final meeting hosted by Indra.

The European Defence Agency (EDA), under the umbrella of its Incubation Forum for Circular Economy in European Defence (IF CEED), has taken a step further towards delivering greater circularity in European defence with the launch of a new project called “IOTA 2", targeting the circular management of body armour vests. IOTA 2 will be taken forward by an industrial consortium from four Member States, namely Luxembourg, Germany, Spain and France, and will run for the next 12 months. It represents a milestone for circularity in defence, being the first project implemented under IF CEED.

Circularity of military equipment: EDA launches project focused on body armour

EU / By Defence Industry Europe

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has taken a step further towards delivering greater circularity in European defence with the launch of a new project called “IOTA 2″.

On 30 January the European Defence Agency (EDA) organised a ‘High Level Symposium’ on military mobility at the Royal Higher Institute for Defence in Brussels, in the context of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU. High-level speakers - including three Ministers of Defence, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, EU Commissioner for Transport, EDA, NATO and U.S. representatives - discussed progress and future challenges of enhancing military mobility in Europe, emphasising the EU’s role in facilitating concrete measures in several areas. Topics of discussion included the harmonisation of custom procedures and border permissions as well as the dual use of transport capacities.

Military Mobility in Europe: cooperation going in the right direction

EU, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

The European Defence Agency (EDA) organised a ‘High Level Symposium’ on military mobility at the Royal Higher Institute for Defence in Brussels.

The EU emphasises that the war in Ukraine highlighted the key role of space-based connectivity in the conduct of military operations (Clapp & Evroux, 2023). In the case of the war in Ukraine, the use of satellites for observation and transmission of information proved crucial. Russia launched cyberattacks to weaken space-based assets used by Ukraine, while an hour before the invasion a multi-faceted attack was launched against the private satellite provider Viasat’s KA-SAT network, which provides high-speed satellite internet coverage for Europe. The attack intended to weaken Ukraine's command and control capabilities. Ukraine's military capabilities are also boosted by Starlink, which gives artillery forces information that soldiers upload via encrypted chat.

Europe’s future capabilities in space and in the higher atmosphere

Important, EU / By Defence Industry Europe

HYDEF hypersonic interceptors, satellite resilience, and space commands.

Across land, sea, air, space and cyber, military operations increasingly rely on data. That makes access to cloud technologies essential. A European Defence Agency-financed study has concluded that cloud computing can be applied to defence, both at the strategic level and in the field, to help European armed forces achieve information superiority against an adversary.

Combat cloud: EDA study shows benefits of cloud computing for EU militaries

EU, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

Cloud computing can be applied to defence, both at the strategic level and in the field, to help European armed forces achieve information superiority against an adversary.

A ground-breaking defence research project exploring the application of quantum technologies in defence in the areas of secure communication and navigation has successfully closed. QuantaQuest – Quantum Secure Communication and Navigation for European Defence - a 28-month EU-funded project under the Preparatory Action on Defence Research (PADR) held its final meeting in December 2023, after delivering on a variety of operational scenarios and developments.

EDA: QuantaQuest project explores application of quantum technologies in defence

EU, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

Led by Thales (France), the p roject brought together nine defence companies and research institutes from three Member States – France, Italy, and the Netherlands – with a budget of approximately € 1.5 million. The project proposed the development of quantum sensors and communication for defence applications in the following fields: Fully autonomous positioning …

EDA: QuantaQuest project explores application of quantum technologies in defence Read More »

To support the EU’s ability to act rapidly and robustly whenever a crisis erupts, the development of a European Command and Control (C2) capability is essential for decision-making, planning, and conduct of missions and operations. Supported by EDA, the European Strategic Command and Control System (ESC2) project concluded a major phase in its aim of to provide a ground-breaking solution that will enable the EU and its Member States to employ the most advanced Command and Control system available worldwide, fully interoperable with the C2 systems of the EU, Member States, NATO, and civilian agencies.

EDA Command and Control projects aims to strengthen support to CSDP missions and operations

Space/C4ISR, EU, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

To support the EU’s ability to act rapidly and robustly whenever a crisis erupts, the development of a European Command and Control (C2) capability is essential for decision-making, planning, and conduct of missions and operations.

The EU should strive towards a fully-fledged ‘European Defence Union’, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen told the European Defence Agency’s annual conference.

Keynote speech by President von der Leyen at the EDA Annual Conference 2023: Powering up European Defence

EU / By Defence Industry Europe

Keynote speech by President von der Leyen at the EDA Annual Conference 2023: Powering up European Defence.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen made a call for Europe to assume what she called “strategic responsibility” in defence matters, amidst a changing and more pressing strategic environment in Europe.

Ursula von der Leyen makes call for powering up European defence

EU, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen made a call for Europe to assume what she called “strategic responsibility” in defence matters.

Ursula von der Leyen unveils plans for defence industrial strategy

EU, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

The EU should strive towards a fully-fledged ‘European Defence Union’, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen told the European Defence Agency’s annual conference.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has published its annual Defence Data report for 2022, for the first-time detailing defence spending from all EU Member States. At a record €240 billion, 2022 European defence spending again increased by 6% on the previous year, marking the eighth year of consecutive growth. 20 of the 27 EU Member States increased defence expenditure, with six increasing spending by over 10%.

Record high European defence spending boosted by procurement of new equipment

EU, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

At a record €240 billion, 2022 European defence spending again increased by 6% on the previous year, marking the eighth year of consecutive growth.

Bison Counter 2023 (BC23), the largest European exercise to combat improvised explosive devices (IEDs), concludes in Spain after 12 intense days of joint training. The exercise, hosted by the Spanish Armed Forces, mobilized more than 1,000 personnel from 16 countries, either actively in different trainings or as observers. More than 270 scenarios were conducted between the two exercise sites.

EDA’s largest ever counter-IED exercise concludes in Spain

EU, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

Bison Counter 2023 (BC23), the largest European exercise to combat improvised explosive devices (IEDs), concludes in Spain after 12 intense days of joint training.