Spanish shipbuilder Navantia announced on 29 May 2024 that six research and development (R&D) projects in which it has a role will be funded by the 2023 European Defence Fund (EDF), according to the selection announced by the European Commission.
The projects, which are valued at a total of EUR 520 million, are focused in areas of technological innovation in defence related to Navantia’s shipbuilding expertise, such as the development of the European Patrol Corvette (EPC) as a joint project among Italy, France, Spain and Greece that is associated with the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) initiative.
The EPC2 Project will address the second phase of the European Patrol Corvette, in the context of the PESCO project and with the consortium formed by Naviris, Fincantieri, Naval Group, Navantia and Hydrus. The initial design of the first phase will be completed, via a contract that is currently being managed Europe’s Organization for Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), and the prototype of each of two variants of a new-generation, multi-role, modular corvette will be built: a long-range multi-purpose vessel and a full-combat multirole vessel. The scope of the project includes port testing of prototypes and the development of a ground-based facility for testing and qualification of systems.
Navantia is, in fact, leading two projects: Optimas and Admirable. The Optimas project is looking to design and develop a prototype high-speed free-space laser communications system for use with different satellite constellations (low-, mid, and geostationary Earth orbit (LEO, MEO, GEO)), with multi-domain applications for ground, naval and air units and the capacity to incorporate quantum key distribution. The prototype focuses on the demonstration of a high-speed optical link between an unmanned aerial vehicle and a LEO satellite.
The Admirable project, meanwhile, is focused on innovation in advanced manufacturing technologies and composite-based materials, with the aim of improving the operation and reducing the vulnerability of future naval platforms. The development of multi-functional materials, including the improvement of structural and electromagnetic characteristics, together with the optimisation of manufacturing processes, is intended to increase the survivability of future European ships. As well as Navantia as lead, they project includes 10 entities from five European nations.
Navantia is also taking part in the three other projects: E=MCM, Seacure and E-CUAS. The objective of the E=MCM project is to develop a scalable system of systems for mine warfare, addressing threats such as drifting, moored and buried mines. It will consist of advanced and scalable toolboxes of autonomous vehicles and smart platforms, as well as decision support functions. A prototype will be developed and a demonstration will be carried out at sea, in which Navantia will participate with its Naval Advanced Integrated Autonomous Defence (NAIAD) system and an unmanned surface vessel with minesweeping capability and the deployment of unmanned underwater vehicles. This consortium is led by Naval Group Belgium and involves 21 entities from 11 nations, including Spain’s Navantia and SAES.
The Seacure project is dedicated to anti-submarine warfare and seabed warfare (Seabed), for which an integrated system of systems based on unmanned vehicles for critical infrastructure protection operations will be designed and developed. The project contemplates the demonstration at sea of a modular, agile and flexible system with the capacity to cover different missions and integrating command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) capabilities, a set of unmanned vehicles in different domains (air, surface and submarine), as well as their corresponding payloads and effectors. Thales France leads this consortium, which consists of 35 entities from 13 countries, with Navantia representing Spain.
Lastly, the E-CUAS project will develop solutions to counter Class I unmanned aerial systems (UASs), including military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles such as loitering munitions, operating in isolation or in groups. It is intended that these solutions would be deployed for the protection of critical infrastructures, both fixed and mobile, as well as naval platforms. The solutions will integrate various types of sensor, both active and passive, as well as different technologies for effectors (hard kill and soft kill), command and control, cyber security, and network and communications infrastructure. The project is led by Leonardo (Italy) and involves 24 companies from 13 countries, including the Spanish companies Navantia, Indra, Escribano, Aertec and INTA.
The projects selected this year by the European Commission are framed in relevant areas of innovation in defence in line with strategic priorities established at both European and national level.
