The European Commission is investing €910 million through the European Defence Fund (EDF), which, for the first time, includes Ukrainian defense companies.
This was announced on the official website of the European Commission.
The investments aim to address key capability gaps—such as armed forces mobility and protection against drones—through innovation and cooperation between European research and industry.
It is noted that strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and the EU’s defense industry is intended to deepen ties and further integrate Ukraine into the European defense industrial base.
“For the first time, Ukrainian defence industries can be associated to EDF projects. The strengthened cooperation between the Ukrainian and European defence industries, builds on outreach efforts by the EU Defence Innovation Office in Kyiv to foster closer ties and to further integrate Ukraine into the European defence industrial base, reinforcing shared security and innovation objectives"
These investments will support the development of Europe’s defense industry in line with the Commission’s “Reinforcing Europe’s Defence” plan by 2030 and the joint European Defence Industrial Strategy White Paper, which outlines a new defense approach and investment needs.
Following the 2024 EDF call for proposals, nine projects have been selected to develop breakthrough technologies, such as METASTEALTH, which is working on next-generation stealth materials.
Nine of the selected projects aim at delivering disruptive technologies, such as project METASTEALTH, which is developing next-generation stealth materials.
Newly selected projects also include Ukraine's Small UAS, which focuses on developing advanced, AI-driven aerial systems. Other examples include the ENGRTII project, which unites more than 45 industrial players and research organisations to develop the next generation European rotorcraft by 2030. Another project, EUROSWEEP, will create a common autonomous European minesweeping system.
