On Friday 16 February, the European Commission announced funding from the European Defence Fund for four new defence projects.
The first project, Ocean 2020, will receive subsidies of around €35 million. It will be run by a consortium led by Leonardo S.p.A. bringing together 42 partners from 15 EU countries. In a press release, the Commission explains: “The Ocean 2020 project supports maritime surveillance and interdiction missions at sea and to that end will integrate drones and unmanned submarines into fleet operations”. The defence ministers of Spain, Estonia, France, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and the United Kingdom will participate.
Far more modestly, the Defence Fund will contribute to three other projects aimed at improving soldiers’ equipment, ranging from €1-3 million.
The ACAMSII project “will develop adaptive camouflage that will protect soldiers against sensors operating in several wavelength ranges”, the Commission states. Participants are from Germany, France, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden.
The second project, Gossra, aims to improve the compatibility of complex system elements (such as sensors or digital goggles) carried by soldiers. It will be headed by partners from Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Sweden.
Finally, the Vestlife project focuses on the creation of protective clothing for soldiers as such clothing is lighter, more flexible and comfortable while maintaining protective qualities. Spain, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal are to take part.
“The funding conventions for these projects will be signed in coming weeks”, the Commission states in its press release. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)