Summary
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRES20260728018
- Term of Validity
- 28 July 2026 - 28 July 2027
- Company's Country
- Spain
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
General information
- Short Summary
- A consortium is preparing a proposal for the European Defence Fund call EDF-SMERO-NT. The project develops low-signature composite materials for military aerial environments. An end user operating unmanned aerial vehicles or other aerial platforms is sought to define technical and operational requirements for the new material.
- Full Description
-
A consortium with high expertise in advanced composite materials and manufacturing is preparing a proposal for the European Defence Fund call EDF-SMERO-NT, aimed at developing innovative low-signature composite materials and related manufacturing approaches for military aerial applications. The project addresses the need for new material solutions that combine structural functionality, low observability and more sustainable processing routes for future platforms operating in demanding defence environments.
The technical work is focused on the development of an advanced manufacturing process for low-signature composite material solutions for military platforms in the X-band. Planned activities include the study and synthesis of nanostructures, their integration into manufacturing routes, and the manufacture and validation of material coupons. The proposed strategy includes multilayer composite concepts based on recycled carbon fibre scrap, electronic printing based on recycled carbon fibre materials, and combined approaches integrating both strategies into a single material concept.
The consortium is specifically looking for an end user active in unmanned aerial vehicles or other aerial platforms. This partner is expected to define operational needs and technical requirements for the new material in airborne defence environments, including performance expectations, integration constraints, use-case conditions and relevant validation scenarios. The participation of such an end user will help ensure that the material development is aligned from the outset with realistic platform needs and future application pathways.
The proposal is being prepared under the European Defence Fund framework. - Advantages and Innovations
-
The project combines low-signature performance, advanced composite materials and sustainability in a single development pathway, using nanostructures, recycled carbon fibre-based strategies and electronic printing approaches for defence-oriented aerial applications. Its innovation lies in linking material design, manufacturing and validation to realistic airborne use requirements from an early stage, which should strengthen both technical relevance and exploitation potential.
A further advantage is that the sought end user will provide direct input on platform constraints and operational expectations, helping guide material specifications toward credible application scenarios in unmanned aerial vehicles and other aerial platforms. This user-driven approach is particularly valuable in defence-related proposal evaluation because it improves relevance, feasibility and alignment with end-user needs. - Technical Specification or Expertise Sought
-
The consortium seeks an end user from the field of unmanned aerial vehicles or other aerial platforms for defence-related applications. The partner should be able to contribute to requirements definition for a new low-signature composite material, including operational conditions, platform integration constraints, expected material behaviour and relevant validation scenarios in airborne environments.
The ideal partner would have experience in one or more of the following:
• Operation, integration or development of unmanned aerial vehicles or other aerial platforms
• Definition of platform-level technical requirements for materials or structures
• Knowledge of defence-related airborne mission conditions and environmental constraints relevant to material use
• Capacity to support use-case definition, relevance assessment and future validation planning - Stage of Development
- Concept stage
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- IPR status
- Secret know-how
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
-
The partner is expected to act as an end user of unmanned aerial vehicles or other aerial platforms and to contribute operational and technical requirements for the development of a new low-signature composite material for airborne defence environments. The partner should provide use-case definition, platform-level constraints, mission-related needs, and feedback on the material’s suitability for integration, performance expectations, and validation scenarios. In addition, the partner may support the identification of relevant testing conditions and future application pathways, ensuring that the material development is aligned with realistic operational needs from the outset.
Please keep in mind: ONLY EDF ELEGIBILE PARTNERS (FROM EU MEMBER STATES AND NORWAY) - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 50 - 249
- SME <=10
- SME 11-49
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Access to finance
- Call title and identifier
-
EDF-2026-LS-RA-SMERO-NT-STEP
- Submission and evaluation scheme
-
29 September
- Anticipated project budget
-
2500000
- Coordinator required
-
No
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- Project duration in weeks
-
156
- Web link to the call
- https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/EDF-2026-LS-RA-SMERO-NT
- Project title and acronym
-
Structural Innovative Low-signature Elements in X-band via Next-generation Composites (SILENCE)
- Access to finance
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 01006006 - Radar
- 02007005 - Composite materials
- 02011001 - Aeronautical technology / Avionics
- 02007024 - Nanomaterials
- 02007019 - Lightweight materials
- Market keywords
- 03008001 - Military electronics (excluding communications)
- 08001015 - Other speciality materials
- Sector Groups Involved
- Aerospace and Defence
- Targeted countries
- All countries