Company / Technology
European Defence Fund
EU programme run by the European Commission that funds collaborative defence research and capability development, including drone defence projects.
Brussels, European UnionTechnology systems
About the company
About European Defence Fund
The European Defence Fund (EDF) is the European Commission's instrument for collaborative defence research and development, managed by the Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS) in Brussels. For 2021–2027 it has a budget of nearly 7.3 billion euros: about 2.7 billion for collaborative defence research and 5.3 billion for capability development projects that complement national contributions.
The research pillar can fund up to 100 percent of eligible costs, while the capability pillar supports prototypes and the joint development of defence equipment. Projects are carried out by consortia of at least three entities from at least three EU member states or associated countries.
In April 2026 the Commission selected 57 projects worth about 1.07 billion euros from the 2025 calls, out of 410 proposals. One of four flagship initiatives is the European Drone Defence Initiative to detect and neutralise hostile drones; selected projects include AETHER (propulsion and thermal management for drone defence) and STRATUS (an AI-based defence system against drone swarms).
In the news2 stories
Drone manufacturer Schiebel: Camcopter S-300 to fly for EU anti-submarine warfare project SWORD
For SWORD, a project funded by the European Defence Fund and led by TKMS Atlas Elektronik, Austrian drone manufacturer Schiebel is supplying the aerial platform. Within three years, a system against underwater threats is to be developed.
Unmanned systems against submarines: Schiebel contributes the S-300 to the EU project SEACURE
The European Defence Fund has approved funding for unmanned systems in anti-submarine warfare. Schiebel is on board – in the Thales-led SEACURE consortium, with the new Camcopter S-300 as its aircraft.