EU programmes · European Defence Agency (EDA)
The EDA issued this market consultation to deepen its understanding of airspace monitoring and counter-UAS (C-UAS) technologies suitable for both military and civil missions, covering detection, tracking, classification, identification, neutralisation, and command-and-control capabilities. It invites industry submissions on existing and emerging solutions, potential suppliers, and capability gaps to inform future procurement strategies across EU Member States. The RFI is explicitly not a call for tender and carries no obligation to initiate a formal procurement process.
For defence-tech companies and SMEs active in C-UAS or airspace surveillance, responding positions them as identified suppliers in EDA's vendor landscape ahead of future tenders across 27 Member States. The process is designed to promote competition and allow suppliers adequate preparation time, making early engagement strategically valuable. It also feeds directly into collaborative EU-level capability development aligned with agreed EU C-UAS priorities.
European Commission (DG DEFIS), with EUSPA and the EIF
Space is treated as dual-use across EU funding; CASSINI gives space-defence start-ups an equity pipeline and visibility instruments that stack with EDF and EUDIS applications.
European Investment Fund with the European Commission, under InvestEU
Not a programme you apply to as a company, but it determines which European VCs have fresh defence-mandated capital; track its fund commitments to know who can actually write you a cheque.
European Investment Bank Group
Debt, not grants: the EIB now finances defence companies that banks still avoid, and venture debt from its one-stop shop can extend runway without dilution once you have revenue or strong contracts.