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Grant Details

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

  • Primary objective: To develop and mature state-of-the-art, high-power engine technologies for future EU military rotorcraft systems.
  • Target recipient: Organizations with capabilities in aerospace propulsion, defence research, and advanced manufacturing.
  • SECTOR-SPECIFIC: Defence, Aerospace.
  • Geographic scope: EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries.
  • Key filtering criteria: Focus on engine (not rotorcraft as a whole), specific power range (above 3,000 shp), military application, contribution to EU sovereignty.
  • Grant frequency: Recurring as part of the annual EDF Work Programme (EDF-2025-RA).

Financial Structure

  • Budget: 25,000,000 EUR for this specific topic.
  • No minimum or maximum grant amount per project specified.
  • Funding type: 'Actual cost research actions'.
  • Eligible costs: Covered by 'Detailed budget table (EDF RA)' annex. Costs must be actual and justified.
  • Indirect cost policies: Refer to 'Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF)'.
  • Currency: EUR.
  • Payment mechanism: Based on 'EDF Action Grant Budget-Based' model, governed by 'EDF, ASAP and EDIRPA MGA'.
  • Financial reporting: Required as per 'Model Grant Agreement (MGA)'.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type
  • Organizations eligible under the European Defence Fund (EDF) regulation.
Geographic Location
  • Located in EU Member States.
  • Located in EDF Associated Countries.
Capacity Requirements
  • Sufficient financial and operational capacity (details in call document section 7).
Exclusion Criteria
  • Subject to exclusion criteria as described in section 7 of the call document.
Project Scope
  • Projects must focus on engine itself and its components (e.g., fuel system, engine control/monitoring).
  • Projects must NOT address research activities on rotors, gearboxes, and shafts.
Activities
  • Mandatory inclusion of 'Generating knowledge', 'Integrating knowledge', 'Studies', and 'Design' activities.
  • Activities related to 'System prototyping', 'Testing', 'Qualification', 'Certification', and 'Development of technologies increasing efficiency across life cycle' are NOT eligible for this topic.

Application Process

Application Timeline
  • Submission session available from: 2025-02-18.
  • Application deadline: 2025-10-16 00:00:00+0000.
  • Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: Described in section 4 of the call document.
Submission Process
  • Single-stage submission procedure.
  • Submitted via the Electronic Submission Service on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
  • Applicants must confirm their choice of action and model grant agreement, which cannot be changed.
Required Documentation
  • Proposal (Part B) adhering to specified page limits and layout.
  • Standard application form (EDF) specific to this call.
  • Detailed budget table (EDF RA).
  • Participant information (EDF).
  • List of infrastructure, facilities, assets, and resources (EDF).
  • Actual indirect cost methodology declaration (EDF).
  • Ownership control declaration.
  • PRS declaration (EDF).
Support for Applicants
  • Contact: [email protected]
  • EDF Info-days 2025 available.
  • Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ and Online Manual for guidance.
  • IT Helpdesk for technical issues.

Evaluation Criteria

Technical Excellence & Innovation
  • Breakthrough engine concept for above 3,000 shp / 2.237 kW power range.
  • Significant increase in efficiency and performance indicators compared to current state-of-the-art.
  • Integration of new generation materials and artificial intelligence (AI) for engine control/monitoring.
  • Novel manufacturing processes (e.g., 3-D-printed components) and innovative repair solutions.
  • Incorporation of hybridisation concepts beneficial to rotorcraft.
Strategic Relevance & Impact
  • Contribution to EU sovereignty and independence in propulsive solutions.
  • Strengthening of EU supply chain and integration of EU Member States'/EDF Associated Countries' capabilities.
  • Development of a product free from export control restrictions by non-EU or non-EDF Associated countries.
  • Alignment of propulsion system architecture/power requirements with EU Next Generation Rotorcraft (ENGR) needs.
  • Improvement of capabilities to meet military requirements for multi-mission rotorcraft.
Sustainability & Environmental Impact
  • Use of green technologies aiming for significantly lower CO2 emissions across the lifecycle.
  • Improved sustainability and recyclability.
  • Compatibility with Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and robustness for lower quality fuels.
Operational Viability & Cost-Effectiveness
  • Minimisation of deterioration in harsh environments.
  • Reduction of fuel usage and high power-to-weight ratio through efficient thermodynamic cycle.
  • Design concepts for minimum life cycle costs.
  • Maximisation of operational usability by increasing times between inspections/overhaul.
  • Capability for real-time engine monitoring, troubleshooting, and predictive maintenance (digital twin, AI-based tools).
  • Design for very simple and lean maintenance.
  • Reduced detectability and increased survivability (low IR and noise signature).
  • Higher electrical power capacity for future on-board systems and hybridisation.
Risk Reduction
  • Reduction of risk for future full propulsion system development program through early research and pre-development.
Synergies & Complementarity
  • Substantial synergies and complementarity with foreseen, ongoing, or completed military rotorcraft activities, especially EDF-2021-AIR-R-NGRT and EDF-2024-DA-AIR-NGRT.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance
  • Adherence to 'EDF Regulation 2021/697' and 'EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509'.
  • Compliance with 'Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment'.
  • Projects must result in a product free from export control restrictions by non-EU or non-EDF Associated countries.
Security & Data Protection
  • Adherence to 'EDF Programme Security Instruction (PSI)'.
  • Compliance with 'Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement'.
Intellectual Property (IP)
  • Policies governed by the 'Model Grant Agreement (MGA)'.
Ethical Standards
  • Implied by general EU funding rules and defence context.
Project Specific Exclusions
  • Research activities on rotors, gearboxes, and shafts are specifically excluded from the scope.
Strategic Importance
  • Focus on reinforcing EU sovereignty and independence in strategic defence platforms.
  • Requirement for clear synergies with other military rotorcraft projects (EDF-2021-AIR-R-NGRT, EDF-2024-DA-AIR-NGRT) to ensure architectural consistency between engine and rotorcraft.

Grant Details

defence aerospace propulsion systems rotorcraft engine development military technology sustainability sustainable aviation fuels saf co2 reduction artificial intelligence ai advanced materials manufacturing digital twin predictive maintenance eu sovereignty supply chain innovation research and development r&d military aviation european defence fund edf
Propulsion system for next generation rotorcrafts
EDF-2025-RA-ENERENV-PSR
European Defence Fund (EDF)
ENTERPRISE SME UNIVERSITY OTHER
AT BE BG HR CY CZ DK EE FI FR DE GR HU IE IT LV LT LU MT NL PL PT RO SK SI ES SE
DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY ENERGY OTHER
DEVELOPMENT
OTHER
SDG9 SDG13 SDG16
FUNDING RESEARCH_DEVELOPMENT INNOVATION_COMMERCIALIZATION CAPACITY_BUILDING
25000000.00
None
None
EUR
100.00
Oct. 16, 2025, midnight
2025-02-18 to 2025-10-16