European Defence Fund for Multifunctional Information Distribution System

Specific Objective

• The MIDS is an advanced information distribution system that provides Communication, Navigation and Identification (CNI) capabilities in an integrated form for application to air, land and maritime tactical operations. These capabilities are provided in support of operational tasks through the ability of the system to:
  • Distribute encrypted information at a high data rate in Electromagnetic Countermeasures (ECM) environments.
  • Interconnect scattered sources of information such as surveillance, support, and intelligence on a continuing real time basis with selectable levels of connectivity among force elements such as weapon systems, weapon controllers and decision-making commanders.
  • Provide mobile surface and airborne force elements with a relative navigation capability within a common position reference grid.
  • Provide an identification capability through the dissemination of crypto-secure position, velocity, and identity information concerning both friendly and hostile force elements.
• The specific objective of this topic is to design, develop and build a demonstrator of a radiocommunication system that provides this critical defence capability to respond to future security challenges.
• This call topic contributes to the STEP objectives, as defined in STEP Regulation, in the target investment area of deep and digital technologies.

Funding Information

• The estimated available call budget is EUR 39000000.
• Project duration: between 12 and 48 months.

Eligible Activities

• Accordingly, the proposals must cover at least the following tasks as part of mandatory activities:
  • Studies:
    • Set up the configurations to be recognised in the design.
    • Identify, analyse and mitigate critical technical risks especially regarding overall integration and certification considerations.
    • Perform a life-cycle-cost-analysis and management.
    • Contribute to the definition and analysis of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) supported by the relevant stakeholders.
  • Design:
    • Select applicable technologies.
    • Design the needed modules.
    • Cover detailed design activities after the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) until at least the Critical Design Review (CDR) of the Fighter MIDS (F-EMIDS) terminal (i.e., terminal form fit designed for fighters).
    • Manufacture all functional modules and components of the demonstrator.
    • Ensure manufacturing ability with efficient supply chain.
    • Perform laboratory functional testing to:
      • Evaluate system functions and electronic warfare (EW) performance.
      • Verify functions and properties against technical requirements.
      • Validate preliminary requirements against operational needs and mission requirements.

Expected Outcomes

• The outcome should contribute to:
  • Improve EU sovereignty and autonomy of EU Member States’ and EDF Associated Countries’ Armed Forces when deployed in coalitions.
  • Enhance C4ISR interoperability between EU Member States’ and EDF Associated Countries’ armed forces and other partner Nations.
  • Reduce dependencies on non-EU suppliers by boosting the EDTIB and promoting the development of a EU solution.
  • Europe’s resilience and EU technological sovereignty.

Eligibility Criteria

• In order to be eligible, all applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities) must cumulatively:
  • Be legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • Be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • Non-EU countries :
      • Listed EEA countries (‘EDF associated countries’; list of participating countries)
  • Have their executive management structure established in eligible countries
  • Not be subject to control by a non-associated third country or non-associated third-country entity (unless they can provide guarantees – approved by the Member State or EDF associated country where they are established)

For more information, visit European Commission.