EU - Defence Industry Europe

The project "Instantaneous Infrastructure Monitoring by Earth Observation" (IIMEO) proposed by a European consortium coordinated by OHB Digital Connect GmbH, a subsidiary of space and technology group OHB SE, has been selected for implementation by the European Commission. IIMEO is funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme as an innovation action with €2.8 million and runs until 30 November 2025. It aims to develop and demonstrate key technologies for the global monitoring of critical infrastructures from space in near real time. A pilot application will be the monitoring of railway tracks.

OHB Digital Connect coordinates IIMEO project

EU, Space/C4ISR / By Defence Industry Europe

The project “Instantaneous Infrastructure Monitoring by Earth Observation” (IIMEO) has been selected for implementation by the European Commission.

European Defence Fund: €1.2 billion to boost EU defence capabilities and innovation

UE, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

The EDF work programme will allocate an additional €1.2 billion to support collaborative research and development projects and innovation in Europe’s defence sector.

Denmark becomes the 27th member state of the European Defence Agency (EDA). Head of the Agency, Josep Borrell, received an official notification from acting Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, that Denmark will join EDA, which was set up in 2004 to support European defence cooperation. Following the conclusion of a Danish parliamentary process, the decision is the result of Denmark’s historic national referendum to lift its opt-out on European defence in June 2022. Danish participation in EDA broadens membership of the Agency to all EU Member States.

Denmark joins the European Defence Agency

EU / By Defence Industry Europe

Denmark becomes the 27th member state of the European Defence Agency (EDA).

IRIS²: European Commission launches invitation to tender for industry

Sea, UE / By Defence Industry Europe

The Commission launches an invitation to tender to procure a concession contract to implement the EU satellite constellation called IRIS².

EMSA has started the deployment of its remotely piloted aircraft services in support of the Italian Coast Guard to gain increased maritime awareness over the Gulf of Genova until the summer. Leveraging on the successful campaign of last year, EMSA services will continue to enhance general maritime safety and security in the area, as well as to assist in search and rescue missions. Protection of the marine environment is another important aspect of the operation and flights will be used to monitor whale migration within the Pelagos Sanctuary, a protected area for marine mammals.

EMSA deploys RPAS services over the Gulf of Genova for increased maritime surveillance

Sea, EU / By Defence Industry Europe

EMSA has started the deployment of its remotely piloted aircraft services in support of the Italian Coast Guard to gain increased maritime awareness over the Gulf of Genova until the summer.

On 23 March, EU Heads of State and Government held a meeting of the European Council in Brussels. Among others, they discussed an agreement reached earlier this week in the Foreign Affairs Council to urgently deliver ground-to-ground and artillery ammunition to Ukraine and, if requested, missiles, including through joint procurement and the mobilisation of appropriate funding, aiming at providing 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition in a joint effort within the next twelve months.

European defence industry needs to increase its capacity in medium and long-term

UE, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

The challenge is to not only ramp up production to satisfy an immediate peak of demand, but also to enhance industrial preparedness for possible future crises.

On 20 March, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell presents the first annual report on the implementation of the Strategic Compass to both Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence during the Foreign Affairs Council.

The Strategic Compass for Security and Defence: one year on [REPORT]

EU, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

Over the past 12 months, the EU has strengthened its security support to partners around the world. Collectively, the EU and Member States have risen to the challenge and elevated their level of ambition and credibility.

Eighteen states sign on Monday the European Defence Agency (EDA) project arrangement for the collaborative procurement of ammunition to aid Ukraine and replenish Member States’ national stockpiles. The project opens the way for EU Member States and Norway to proceed along two paths: a two-year, fast-track procedure for 155mm artillery rounds and a seven-year project to acquire multiple ammunition types. Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and Norway have signed. More Member States have already expressed their intent to join the initiative soon following national procedures.

EDA brings together 18 countries for Common Procurement of Ammunition

EU / By Defence Industry Europe

Eighteen states sign the European Defence Agency (EDA) project arrangement for the collaborative procurement of ammunition to aid Ukraine and replenish Member States’ national stockpiles.

European Union countries agreed on a plan to give one million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next year by digging into their own stockpiles and teaming up to buy more, officials said.

European Union to send one million artillery shells to Ukraine

EU, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

European Union countries agreed on a plan to give one million artillery shells to Ukraine over the next year.

The new Politea's report entitled "Navigating the Euro-Atlantic defence innovation landscape" set out to analyse emerging transatlantic defence innovation systems and the extent to which EU and NATO efforts in the domain overlap, are in conflict or have potential synergies. The overarching finding is that EU and NATO systems are separate but heavily interdependent. They are separate in terms of membership, governance structures, legal regimes and the way financial resources can benefit innovation in non-member markets. However, they are interdependent in the sense that they cover similar fields, their memberships are similar, investments – both financial and human – in one setting will affect the resources available in the other and the end-product can benefit the security of both.

Navigating the Euro-Atlantic defence innovation landscape [REPORT]

NATO, EU / By Defence Industry Europe

A new report by Politea entitled set out to analyse emerging transatlantic defence innovation systems and the extent to which EU and NATO efforts in the domain overlap, are in conflict or have potential synergies.

EU and NATO are joining forces to step up the existing cooperation by launching an EU-NATO Task Force on Resilience of Critical Infrastructure.

EU and NATO are stepping up protection of critical infrastructure

NATO, EU, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

EU and NATO are joining forces to step up the existing cooperation by launching an EU-NATO Task Force on Resilience of Critical Infrastructure.

Senior officials from NATO and the European Union met on Thursday (16 March 2023) to launch a new NATO-EU Task Force on Resilience of Critical Infrastructure. Cooperation to strengthen critical infrastructure has become even more important in light of the sabotage against the Nord Stream pipelines, and Russia’s weaponisation of energy as part of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

EU and NATO launch task force on resilience of critical infrastructure

EU, NATO / By Defence Industry Europe

NATO and the European Union launch a new NATO-EU Task Force on Resilience of Critical Infrastructure.