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EDF 2026: calls and Info Days
The edf 2026 cycle is now live and brings together 31 topics across 10 calls, with a very clear timetable: one early deadline in April and the bulk of deadlines at the end of September. In addition, the EDF Info Days 2026 (10–11 March 2026, hybrid format Brussels/online) provide the official overview of the programme and help you interpret how the calls fit together.
This article focuses on what you need to make fast, well-informed decisions: which calls exist in edf 2026, how they cluster by capability and technology areas, and what their indicative budgets look like.
Timeline for EDF 2026: key dates and why they matter
The official portal shows that the development calls (EDF-2026-DA) open in February 2026 and close mostly in September 2026.
However, one detail changes priorities significantly: not everything closes at the same time.
Milestones that set the pace
- February 2026: the package of topics becomes effectively open on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
- April 2026: an early closure for a key digital topic (multi-domain operations cloud).
- September 2026: the majority of the remaining opportunities close around the end of the month.
EDF 2026 Info Days: the event that sits alongside the calls
The EDF Info Days 2026 take place on 10–11 March 2026 and combine on-site participation in Brussels with online attendance. The European Commission positions the event for potential applicants (public and private entities) established in EU Member States and Norway.
From a calls perspective, the value is straightforward: the event focuses on the EDF 2026 package and supports a clearer reading of the topics, without replacing the official documentation.
EDF 2026 calls: complete opportunities catalogue (31 topics)
Below you will find the catalogue organised by area. Each entry includes: topic code, title, action type (RA/DA/LS), deadline, and indicative budget where available.
A quick note on action types
- EDF-RA = Research Actions
- EDF-DA = Development Actions
- EDF-LS = Lump Sum
Naval and critical infrastructure protection
Surface (littoral) and semi-autonomous platforms
EDF-2026-DA-NAVAL-EMSAS — Enhanced medium-size semi-autonomous surface vessels (EDF-DA) – Deadline: 09/29/2026
Seabed infrastructure and resilience
EDF-2026-RA-SI-UWW-CSBI-STEP — Layered critical seabed infrastructure protection (EDF-LS) – Deadline: 09/29/2026
Underwater signature: modelling and prediction
EDF-2026-RA-UWW-FUWN — Models predicting flow-related underwater noise (EDF-RA) – Deadline: 09/29/2026
Mobility, platforms and indirect fires
Multiple rocket launcher
EDF-2026-DA-GROUND-MRL — Multiple rocket launcher (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Future main battle tank platform
EDF-2026-DA-GROUND-MBT — Future main battle tank platform systems (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Secure digital military mobility
EDF-2026-DA-PROTMOB-DMM — Secure digital military mobility system (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Air: combat, self-protection, refuelling and light aircraft
Smart technologies for next-generation fighter systems
EDF-2026-DA-AIR-STFS — Smart technologies for next generation fighter systems (EDF-DA) – Deadline: 09/29/2026
Self-protection systems
EDF-2026-DA-AIR-SPS — Self-protection systems (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Autonomous and automatic air-to-air refuelling
EDF-2026-RA-AIR-A4R — Autonomous and automatic air-to-air refuelling (EDF-RA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Future multirole light aircraft
EDF-2026-RA-PROTMOB-FMLA — Future multirole light aircraft (EDF-RA and EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Propulsion: new turbofan engine
EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI-ENERENV-NTFE — New turbofan engine (EDF-LS)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Space and operational navigation
Galileo PRS and NAVWAR capabilities
EDF-2026-DA-SPACE-PRS-STEP — Integration of Galileo PRS receivers… (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Cyber and secure communications
Quantum-secured tactical networks
EDF-2026-RA-CYBER-QSTN — Quantum secured tactical networks (EDF-RA and EDF-DA) – Deadline: 09/29/2026
Digital: cloud, AI and simulation
Multi-domain operations cloud (early deadline)
EDF-2026-DA-EXP-DIGIT-MDOC-STEP — Military multi-domain operations cloud services (EDF-DA) Deadline: 28 April 2026
AI and swarming: challenge organisation and participation
EDF-2026-LS-RA-CHALLENGE-DIGIT-AISAO — Challenge organisation (EDF-LS)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
EDF-2026-LS-RA-CHALLENGE-DIGIT-AISAP-STEP — Challenge participation (EDF-LS)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Modelling & simulation with AI
EDF-2026-RA-SIMTRAIN-MSAI — Modelling & simulation with AI (EDF-RA and EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Sensors, electronic warfare and air defence
Multi-domain sensing demonstrator and testing
EDF-2026-RA-SENS-MSDT — Multi-domain sensing demonstrator & testing (EDF-RA and EDF-DA) Deadline: 09/29/2026
Enhanced cognitive electronic warfare
EDF-2026-DA-SENS-CEW-STEP — Enhanced cognitive EW system (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
High-end endo-atmospheric interception (air defence)
EDF-2026-DA-ACC-AIRDEF-EATMI — High-end endo-atmospheric interception (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
New abilities in over-the-horizon sensing
EDF-2026-LS-DA-DIS-OTHR — New abilities in over-the-horizon sensing (EDF-LS)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Energy, environment and materials
Ammunition waste collection and disposal unmanned platform
EDF-2026-DA-ENERENV-AWC-STEP — Ammunition waste collection & disposal unmanned platform (EDF-DA) Deadline: 09/29/2026
High-performance energy systems
EDF-2026-DA-ENERENV-HPES-STEP — High-performance energy systems (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
Smart and multifunctional textiles
EDF-2026-DA-MATCOMP-SMT-STEP — Smart and multifunctional textiles (EDF-DA)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
CBRN and medical defence
Decontamination systems and technologies
EDF-2026-RA-MCBRN-DST — Decontamination systems & technologies (EDF-RA and EDF-DA) Deadline: 09/29/2026
Cross-cutting SME opportunity
Non-thematic development actions by SMEs (lump sum)
EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME-NT — Non-thematic development actions by SMEs (EDF-LS)
Deadline: 09/29/2026
This call stands out because it offers flexibility: it supports innovative defence products, solutions or technologies without requiring a perfect fit into one thematic topic. As a result, it can be particularly relevant if you want to accelerate a dual-use technology’s transition into defence.
What this catalogue tells you about EDF 2026
If you read the package strictly as a map of opportunities, three practical conclusions emerge:
- Multi-domain operations cloud sits in a different race, because it closes in April.
- The largest indicative budgets cluster around platforms and air defence (MBT, high-end endo-atmospheric interception, naval).
- The cross-cutting SME call creates a clear route for applied innovation without forcing a traditional topic fit.
Finally, the Info Days arrive at a useful moment: they land soon after publication and well before the submission sprint reaches full speed, helping stakeholders interpret the calls and the overall EDF 2026 logic.
For more funding opportunities and the latest updates, visit the Kaila blog.
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