European Defence Fund draws record 612 proposals for €1 billion funding round, targeting missile defence, tanks and naval systems

The European Defence Fund has received a record 612 proposals in response to its latest €1 billion funding round, with priority areas including missile defense, armored vehicles and naval systems. The unprecedented volume of submissions reflects surging European industry engagement with EU defense funding mechanisms following the sharp increase in European defense budgets since 2022. The EDF round is expected to co-fund collaborative research and development programs across multiple member states, accelerating capability development in areas identified as critical by the European Defence Agency.