EDA News

Today, a call for proposals for the Pilot Project for defence research has been published in the Official Journal and on the EDA website. The objective of the call is to award grant agreements for the value of almost €1.4 million for two technological development projects in the area of defence and one research and development project linked to certification for military and civil uses. This is the first time that defence research will be funded through the EU budget following a Delegation Agreement signed by the EDA and the European Commission in November 2015.

In particular, the present call looks for proposals that: foster research cooperation between defence research actors in European Union Member States, strengthen the defence industry’s competitiveness and raises the level of defence technological and industrial capacity for the armed forces. 

Research in defence related technologies is a critical area for the development of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and the strength and strategic autonomy of the EU Member States armed forces. 

The Pilot Project, has been introduced by the European Parliament in the EU budget (2015 and 2016), with the aim to test the conditions for defence research in the EU framework and pave the way for the planned Preparatory Action on defence research. 

The European Commission, in agreement with the European Council, will launch a Preparatory Action on defence research, as foreseen in the Commission’s 2013 Communication on the defence and security sector and the 2014 implementation roadmap, which will start in 2017 and last for three years, in order to test and prepare the ground for a possible defence research programme in the next Multiannual Financial Framework.

The Pilot Project has been entrusted to EDA by the European Commission through a Delegation Agreement which was signed on 16 November. As a result, EDA is responsible for the execution and management of the projects. The call for proposals, the submission of proposals, the evaluation and the awarding of the grant agreement will be organised and coordinated by EDA. 

Interested parties are invited to respond to the call for proposals before 20 May 2016. The call and associated documentation are available here. 

• Call for proposal for the Pilot Project on defence research

On 17 March, the Republic of Serbia officially joined the EU Satcom Market. The EDA initiative is designed to provide flexible commercial satellite communication solutions for its contributing members.

Commercial satellite communications are used by all nations to provide extra capacity on top of their own military and governmental satellite communications. The EU Satcom Market provides a flexible and cost-effective way of doing this. 

Jorge Domecq, the EDA Chief Executive, welcomed Serbia's decision to join the EU Satcom Market project highlighting the benefits of the project as regards the provision of commercial satellite communication solutions. He added that this was a concrete step of the Republic of Serbia to enhance cooperation with EDA partners in the framework of the Administrative Arrangement between the Agency and the Serbian Ministry of Defence. 

The Republic of Serbia signed an Administrative Arrangement with the Agency in 2013 enabling it to participate in EDA projects and programmes. The EU Satcom Market is the first EDA project which the Republic of Serbia has decided to join.

Within the EU Satcom Market project, EDA acts as the central purchasing body on behalf of the contributing members. It purchases the services from a commercial provider. The project uses a ‘pay-per-use’ model, so members do not have to contribute with regular fees, instead they only pay for what they order. 
Since May 2013, 32 orders have been passed for a total value of around €5.2 million. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Portugal, the Republic of Serbia, Romania, the United Kingdom, the Athena Mechanism, EUCAP Sahel Niger and EUCAP SAHEL Mali are now members of the project. Further participation is open to all EDA participating Member States as well as all entities entitled to take part in Agency activities.

• EU SatCom Market project page
• Operations Support project page

Exercise COLD BLADE 2016, hosted by the Finnish Defence Forces, was formally completed Wednesday evening March 16th 2016 by the Chief of Finnish Army Aviation, LtCol Jaro Kesänen.

At exercise closure, a total of 290 hours had been flown on 156 missions with 3 participating Member States (Finland and Germany, as well as Sweden which sent observers) and 10 European helicopters: seven NH-90, one MD500 and two CH-53GA. Italian attendees participated in the survival training.

This cold weather exercise was operated from Ivalo airbase in Finland. The challenging winter scenario in Lapland allowed Finland and Germany to train and adapt their aircrew to winter conditions. Besides the focus on flying in demanding white-out conditions, the exercise was used to test the helicopters, test the aircrew and to teach and learn Technics, Tactics and Procedures in a cold and snowy environment.

During the first week, Finland and Germany executed individual trainings, qualifying helicopter pilots and loadmasters in white-out landings and navigation skills in an area with barely any houses or roads. During day and night missions all training aims were met and, even with Night Vision Goggles, the nights were very dark in northern Finland. During the second week, formation flights with German CH-53GA and Finnish NH-90 helicopters were flown at night. While aircrew from Germany and Finland were flying, Italian militaries attended the survival course and learned how to survive in Lapland.

The German Detachment commander praised the unique nature of the exercise and stressed that the added value of cooperating with other nations and practicing winter operations in combined missions just could not have been achieved by working alone. The skills developed during the exercise are precisely those needed to conduct successful operations in the future. These types of exercises truly enhance helicopter capabilities in Europe which also reflects the objective of EDA’s Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP). Since the first exercise in France in 2009, trainings have increased in scale, environmental challenges and complexity. Participants not only came from different nations but also from different branches with air force and army all working together. In exercise Cold Blade 2016, German Army NH-90 mechanics executed tests and exchanged information with their Finnish counterparts concerning winter maintenance, use of tools and NH-90 helicopter documentation.

This was the first EDA exercise hosted by Finland.

• Factsheet COLD BLADE 2016
• COLD BLADE 2016 Video
• Infos on EDA Helicopter Initiatives

(picture above and video were provided by Finnish Defence Forces)

A new promising defence-related project on Energy Storage Technology was launched by EDA at a kick-off meeting on 11 March. The so-called NEXTT project standing for “New Energy storage using compleX hydride Tanks for Thermoneutral systems”, was initiated by the European Defence Agency in the framework of the second Joint Investment Programme on Innovative Concepts and Emerging Technologies (JIP ICET 2).

The project’s objective is to develop a new energy storage system for hydrogen, using new materials and advanced tank solutions with the following targets: high gravimetric density for high mobility of the system; high volumetric density for compactness and practicability of the system; and optimized heat absorption leading to low heat losses and thus reduced thermal signature of the overall system.

The NEXTT project demonstrates and reflects in an exemplary manner the key idea behind the JIP ICET 2 programme, namely to involve the full spectrum of entities in the R&T cycle, ranging from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over research centres to big industry, as the end-user of the technology development. The NEXTT consortium is led by a spin-off SME of an Austrian University (Forschungs- und Technologietransfer GmbH, FOTEC) with two major research centres (Fraunhofer IFAM, Germany, and Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives CEA, France), as well as an industrial end-user (DCNS Group, France) also participating. This bandwidth allows the consortium to cover all aspects of the targeted development from research in advanced materials and system integration up to the military application. The NEXTT project also promotes civil-military synergies and dual-use technologies as it aims to transfer technologies and knowledge already used by the space industry to the defence sector for further development. The launch of NEXTT completes the lists of projects which had been earmarked under JIP ICET 2 in view of fostering the development of new, innovative technologies that have potential to enable future military capabilities. JIP ICET 2 is managed and funded by Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden in the framework of the EDA.

• Factsheet JIP ICET 2

Under the new chairmanship of Lieutenant General Erhard Bühler, Capability Directors met today at the European Defence Agency for their biannual Steering Board meeting. In the presence of General Mikhail Kostarakos, Chairman of the EU Military Committee and General Denis Mercier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), Directors exchanged views on stimulating defence cooperation and were briefed on progress in a number of key capability projects. Decisions were also taken in order to boost EDA’s work on space, earth observation and military radio-navigation policy. 

In his update, Jorge Domecq, EDA Chief Executive, first thanked the previous chairman Admiral Martínez Nuñez, Director General of Defence Policy at the Spanish Ministry of Defence, for his impactful chairmanship before welcoming Lieutenant General Bühler, Director General for Planning at the German Ministry of Defence, in this role. Mr Domecq briefed the audience among others on the forthcoming Global Strategy and its potential impact on defence, the roadmap for the Preparatory Action on CSDP-related research, on incentives for defence cooperation as well as on EDA’s work in support to CSDP operations. Leading Member States also briefed participants on the status of the four key capability programmes (air-to-air refuelling, cyber defence, GovSatCom, and RPAS).

General Mercier joined Capability Directors for a lively exchange of views on ways to stimulate defence cooperation demonstrating the good interaction between the Agency and ACT in areas of common interest. 

One key point of the meeting’s rich agenda was a discussion on the possible replication of the EATC cooperation model for other multinational cooperation projects. This follows a tasking from the European Council in December 2013, reminded by the Foreign Affairs Council in May 2015. Capability Directors also received an initial briefing by the Agency on the table-top exercise on hybrid warfare which was held from 9 to 11 March at the Agency. 

EDA’s Steering Board also attracted high-level Commission representation by Director General DG MARE Juan Aguiar Machado and Director General DG Mobility and Transport Henrik Hololei. Both confirmed the good level of cooperation between the European Commission and the Agency on the implementation of wider EU policies with relevance to defence such as the EU Maritime Security Strategy and SES/SESAR.

The sixth edition of the Personnel Recovery Controller and Planner Course (PRCPC), a project initiated and supported by the European Defence Agency (EDA), was organised and hosted for the third time by Sweden in Karlsborg from 29 February to 11 March 2016. 

Instructors from Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden shared their knowledge and experience of Personnel Recovery (PR) matters with a group of students coming from Austria, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. The main focus of the course was to train staff officers in supporting their commanders in PR related issues. The course is designed for personnel who man personnel recovery positions in tactical operation centres (TOCs), personnel recovery coordination cells (PRCCs) or joint personnel recovery cells (JPRCs). Overall, it is acknowledged that PR capabilities in Europe benefitted through the increased number of trained personnel available to support our future operations and missions.

Personnel Recovery is usually defined as the sum of efforts needed to recover isolated civilian or military personnel. Certainly, PR is a vital element of modern operational planning as it provides a security net for deployed personnel. Most importantly, it boosts morale and acknowledges national as well as European Union responsibilities to effect the recovery and reintegration of isolated personnel deployed in the context of Crisis Management Operations under the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

The next EU PRCPC will take place at the European Personnel Recovery Centre (EPRC) at Poggio Renatico Air Base (Italy) from 4 to 15 April 2016.

The EDA PRCPC project was established on 30 May 2013 as an EDA Category B project under the lead of Sweden. As of today, it includes six contributing EU Member States (cMS): Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and Sweden. On 31 May 2015, the cMS agreed to extend the PRCPC Cat B project until 30 May 2017. The EPRC is a potential candidate for the continuation of the project.

• News 5th edition of Personnel Recovery Controller and Planner Course (PRCPC) (15 Dec 2015)

Around 80 experts participated in the EDA Hybrid Threats Table Top Exercise (TTX) which took place at EDA premises in Brussels over three days. The event gathered participants from Member States, representatives from the European Commission (DG Grow, DG Energy, DG Move, DG Home, DG Echo), the European External Action Service (Crisis Management and Planning Directorate, EU Military Committee,  EU Military Staff), CERT, ENISA, and Europol, as well as observers from NATO.

The objective of the TTX was to identify and analyse implications of hybrid threats for European military capability development. Is anything new required from the military? Which priority actions are affected in the hybrid context? These questions were tackled through discussions and exchanges placed in the context of a generic scenario and planning situations developed specifically for this exercise.

The exercise was concluded today with a VIP visitors’ day where main take-aways from the working sessions were presented. As part of this concluding session, Dr Javier Solana delivered a special address highlighting the necessity for EU Member States to act collectively in this newly emerging security environment, making use of the toolbox we have available on an intergovernmental level.

Final findings and recommendations derived from the TTX will be delivered at the Ministerial Steering Board in April. A second TTX is planned in June, will take a more detailed look into the different capability areas where shortfalls and vulnerabilities have been indicated.

• News "Countering Hybrid Threats: “Capabilities need to be used in a more coherent and comprehensive manner” (Jorge Domecq)" (4 Mar 2016)
  
  

Speaking before the European Parliament’s security and defence subcommittee (SEDE) on Thursday March 3rd, EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq stressed the need for a more coordinated European approach to effectively tackle hybrid threats. At a time when hybrid warfare tactics - a combination of conventional and unconventional, military and non-military, overt and covert actions - are increasingly employed by state- and non-state actors in conflicts close to the EU’s southern and eastern borders (Ukraine, Syria, Libya), “it is essential to focus on the ability and agility of Member States and the EU to anticipate and react in a swift and coordinated manner” to these threats, Mr Domecq said.  Most individual Member States have adequate capabilities in place to counter hybrid threats, “but they must learn to deploy those resources in a more coherent, comprehensive way”, he stressed. The European External Action Service (EEAS), supported by EDA and the Commission, is currently preparing a joint framework on hybrid warfare which will form the basis of the future work in this field. In the meantime, the EDA continues its work of assessing the extent to which hybrid threats will affect capability development in Europe in the broadest possible context, Mr Domecq told MEPs. To this end, EDA will conduct a table top exercise from 9-11 March which will involve relevant actors, such as the EEAS, the European Commission, NATO, Member States and academics. The results will be presented to Ministers of Defence in April.

Referring to the potential of enhanced EU-NATO cooperation in countering hybrid threats, Mr Domecq expressed the view that progress in this particular field could take EU-NATO relations “to a new level”. In the current context of rapidly spreading hybrid warfare, to intensify cooperation with NATO “is not an option, but an absolute necessity”, the EDA Chief Executive stated in the presence of NATO Assistant Secretary General Heinrich Brauss who also attended the SEDE meeting. “Our collective reply to hybrid is a major opportunity (…) The comparative advantages of the EU and NATO should be used to the maximum extent. The deterrence effect of NATO and the complementarity of our (EU) tools and instruments, are more than enough reason to enhance our cooperation”, he said. 

In his speech, Mr Domecq also touched upon the upcoming EU Global Strategy telling MEPs that the EDA would use its full expertise to help translate the Global Strategy into EU military capabilities required to deal with current and future security risks, including hybrid threats. He also highlighted the need for increased investments in defence-related research and technologies (R&T) with a particular focus on dual-use technologies and civilian-military synergies. By pushing forward the Preparatory Action on CSDP-related research project which is scheduled to be launched in 2017, the EDA and the European Commission “recognise that investing today in future-oriented defence research programmes is crucial to developing the capabilities that are required tomorrow”, Mr Domecq stated. 

“Malta needs to have an enhanced presence in the European Defence Agency,” said Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Carmelo Abela, during a meeting with Mr Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the EDA which discussed ways to enhance defence cooperation on a European level.

Malta’s involvement in EDA projects and activities, the upcoming EU Global Strategy and preparations for next year’s Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union were discussed during this meeting. 

EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq very much welcomed  the Minister’s commitment and underlined the Agency’s flexible, à la carte, approach. Member States can choose areas of interest according to national defence priorities. Mr Domecq encouraged Minister Abela to actively consider participation in EDA’s projects according to Malta’s areas of interest and participation. He also assured Minister Abela of the Agency’s support in preparation of and during the Maltese Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2017.

Minister Abela reiterated Malta’s commitment to actively contribute to European defence while taking into account its limited resources - Malta’s defence budget amounts to €53 million or 0.6% of the GDP. The Armed Forces of Malta will also continue strengthening their capabilities in both air and maritime surveillance to protect Malta and EU’s borders through EU funds.

The Minister for Home Affairs pointed out that the issue of the Mediterranean will be on top of the agenda during Malta’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union next year. This will be in line with its established priorities, which include the migration and maritime aspects. He also expressed his hope for a functional unity government to be established in Libya, as this will have a direct impact on the stability of the whole region.

Minister Abela noted positively Mr Domecq’s remarks that for the EDA, all Member States have the same weight as stakeholders, irrespective of their size.

The meeting in Valletta was part of a series of visits by Mr Domecq to all EDA Member States, underlining the Agency’s commitment to work closely with and support all Member States.

The first European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course (EATTC) of 2016 drew to a close on 25 February with the graduation of both day and night qualified aircrews from Belgium, Spain, Germany and Poland. 

The new dual track course was hailed as a complete success, with all training objectives achieved to reach the graduation standard but, perhaps more importantly, by the crews themselves who had found the course both challenging and enjoyable. The opportunity to mix with crews of different nationalities, operating different aircraft in the same role offered an additional dimension to the event and added greatly to improved interoperability envisaged in the sponsoring 20-nation European Air Transport Fleet (EATF) programme.

The next course will run in Orléans in France over the period 22 May - 3 June 2016.

• News "Airlift tactics training with focus on night flying" (16 Feb 2016)
• EAATTC16-1 factsheet 
• Flickr album with pictures from the event

This week, the Group of Personalities issued its report on the Preparatory Action for CSDP-related research. Convened by Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, the group consists of key personalities from European industry, government, the European Parliament and academia. In its report, the group now made recommendations for a long-term vision for EU-funded CSDP-related research which can boost European defence cooperation. 

These recommendations address the overall scope and governance of future EU-funded CSDP research and highlight possible collaboration and coordination mechanisms. The overarching goal of the Preparatory Action and CSDP-related research is to create a framework that would facilitate a collaborative approach to defence among the Member States.

Jorge Domecq, Chief Executive of the European Defence Agency (EDA) and an alternate to High Representative, Vice President and Head of the Agency Federica Mogherini, in the group, underlines, “The Preparatory Action on CSDP-related research is a pivotal instrument in support of Europe’s strategic autonomy: it will reinforce our collective military freedom of action by fostering defence cooperation. The establishment of such a European instrument can contribute to translating our level of ambition into action. The Preparatory Action can become a catalyst for European cooperation in key capability areas by breaking down the barriers and overcoming the disincentives to cooperation that exist today.”

Against the background of shrinking defence R&T budgets with negative long-term effects on capability development and industrial outlook, the report acknowledges that an EU-funded Defence Research Programme (EDRP), complementary to national R&D, may help fostering cooperation, ensuring European security and supporting the European defence technological and industrial base. 

In the report, the Group of Personalities highlight the importance of close cooperation between governments (as sole customers), industries (as main suppliers) and R&T organisations for the success of the Preparatory Action. At the same time, the report describes the EDA as “the only EU body with the mandate to define collective defence capability and research priorities and support defence cooperation”. It is “therefore the most logical and appropriate vehicle to identify and review priorities in this domain”. 

Commenting on this last point, Jorge Domecq says, “The Preparatory Action combined with the active role of EDA upstream, meaning in its preparation, and downstream, in its implementation, could lead to a more systematic cooperation in Europe.”

• Download the report here (EUISS website)

The Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) was delivered to Soesterberg, the Netherlands at end of last week. The deployable laboratory was financed through the European Defence Agency and is now ready for deployment to operations to counter-IED threats on the request of the JDEAL Contributing Members.

JDEAL was facilitated by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the lead nation The Netherlands. The JDEAL programme is now counted as a fully operational training facility and a deployable capability. Moreover, JDEAL is now seeking to acquire a second deployable capability.

JDEAL also makes use of equipment and knowledge gained from the EDA-developed Counter-IED Technical Exploitation Laboratory (MNTEL) which was previously deployed with ISAF in Kabul.

The laboratory works across the entire spectrum of technical IED exploitation. This includes detailed visual examination and high quality image capture; technical exploitation reporting; biometric analysis (latent finger print recovery); electrical circuitry (primarily radio parts); document and media recovery (focused on the mobile phones often used as IED triggering devices); chemical analysis; mechanical exploitation as well as other materiel exploitation.

Major Geert-Jan Verkoeijen, JDEAL Manager in Soesterberg, and his team received the deployable facility on 10 February. Major Verkoeijen answers to three questions on the laboratory and possible future deployment here below.

• What does the Joint Deployable Exploitation and Analysis Laboratory (JDEAL) mean for C-IED capability in Europe?

JDEAL is an EDA Cat B project that started in September 2014 for the duration of three years. After the opening ceremony, on 4 November 2014, JDEAL has proven to be a good example for how cooperation between European nations can be arranged. The gained experience so far shows that it takes time to change, adapt current approaches, doctrines and even processes on (C-IED) technical exploitation. In some cases we see and experience that we don’t  have this time. In my opinion the JDEAL concept can be seen as an example in current European political-military discussions: the current review of the ‘C-IED concept in EU-led military operations’ could benefit of the lessons identified and learned or even the cooperation approach as a whole.

The JDEAL concept is already used in other cooperation developments, thus, this is a huge compliment for what we have achieved so far. In case the JDEAL concept is used for future cooperation plans, the main and most important issue is commitment. With commitment and willingness it’s ‘easy’ to start in a short time. This JDEAL concept approach (could) benefit future decision making processes and eases supporting but ‘mandatory’ issues like budget, equipment and personnel.

After executing several JDEAL basic courses we enter now the ‘next’ stage in the project. On 10 February we received our deployable laboratory in Soesterberg. JDEAL is now in the position to fulfill and execute its main tasks: (1) execute trainings, (2) deploy the laboratory and (3) maintain knowledge & research developments. JDEAL can contribute to trainings, operations and discussions related to our specific C-IED technical exploitation work field.  Either way JDEAL demonstrates that ‘pooling and sharing’ of capabilities and capacities are beneficial for contributing countries. This knowledge will be used for the discussion, the continuation of JDEAL after 2017.

• How do you see the readiness of the staff and laboratory for deployment?

The challenge is to create a pool of experts that fulfills continuation in future deployment(s). This pool must consist of military staff who are able to use the available equipment, material and procedures. Importantly, the staff has to work in a team. Right now we don’t have a deployment or mission and it’s difficult to anticipate needs and consequences. In my opinion JDEAL is flexible and modular enough to adapt and fulfill  future needs. From this perspective JDEAL is in the position  to influence the decision making process. Before the actual deployment JDEAL analyses with the lead-nation how to support the deployment. JDEAL is able to prepare and execute the necessary means for deployment and make sure that the assigned crew is trained by the JDEAL permanent staff.

The delivery of the first deployable laboratory JDEAL allows us to focus on the possible operational consequences of getting deployed in the upcoming months.  We are now preparing for the C-IED training exercise ‘Bison Counter’ in Sweden (August 2016). The Bison Counter ’16  exercise will also be a test for the technical exploitation ‘chain’ and JDEAL will benefit also from the knowledge/ procedures  of operational units and collection / level 1 tactical exploitation. This exercise will connect the several technical exploitation steps. 

• When do you see the first opportunity for the laboratory for deployment?

As stated in the JDEAL Programme Arrangement the contributing members states can claim the deployable facility. Now we have the deployable laboratory I can imagine (my assumption) that nations are considering JDEAL deployment. The JDEAL permanent staff has the challenge to make sure that when the time comes, we are ready to support the lead nation.

• Counter IED project page

The objective for the cyber situation awareness package (CySAP) is to provide commanders and other decision-makers with information to develop a clear understanding of the cyber-attack threat landscape.  Also, it aims to equip them with the tools (competent personnel, effective procedures and technology platforms) to manage risks during the planning and conduct phases of a military operation. This will improve the resilience of military information infrastructure and other networked systems in the event of a cyber-attack. 

The official endorsement of the Business Case by EDA Steering Board on the 12 February 2016 and the military requirements based on the Common Staff Requirement on the 27 November 2015, marks the initiation of an ad hoc project through the negotiation of a Project Arrangement. 

The project will be carried out under the EU Pooling & Sharing agenda and aims to develop a modular capability within the goal ‘to mitigate the risk of a cyber-attack on Communications and Information Systems and other network capabilities used within the planning and conduct of CSDP operations’.  

The agreed milestones will progress through simultaneous activities comprising:

• Requirements and Architecture Development by 2016
• Definition of work package options within a Programme Arrangement by 2017

The EU Cyber Defence Policy Framework, as adopted by the Council on 18 November 2014, states that “Cyberspace is often described as the fifth domain of military activity, equally critical to European Union (EU) Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) implementation as the domains of land, sea, air, and space. The successful implementation of CSDP has been increasingly dependent on the availability of, and access to, a secure cyberspace. Robust and resilient cyber defence capabilities are now required to support CSDP structures and CSDP missions and operations”. 

• Cyber defence programme

The European Defence Agency (EDA) currently has several job openings in the different directorates: Corporate Services Director (TA, AD14), Head of Unit Information Superiority (TA, AD12), Project Officer Components Technologies (TA, AD11), Programme Manager Satellite Communication & Project Officer Radio Spectrum (TA, AD11), Policy Officer Industry Relations and Support - SMEs (SNE), Project Officer Communication and Information Systems (SNE), IT Developer  (CA, FGIV). Candidates must apply via the EDA website.

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the participating Member States, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders. It works in an integrated way, with multi-disciplinary teams representing all the Agency’s functional areas, to realise its objectives including its annual Work Programme and its rolling three-year Work Plan. Its business processes are flexible and oriented towards achieving results. Staff at all levels need to demonstrate the corresponding qualities of flexibility, innovation, and team-working; to work effectively with shareholders and stakeholder groups, formal and informal; and to operate without the need for detailed direction.

• Access the vacancy notices through our job portal

With more than 11,000 aircraft currently stationed in Europe, the military are Europe’s biggest airline. Europe’s armed forces operate more than 150,000 flights per year. The Single European Sky initiative and its technological pillar, the Single European Sky Air Traffic Management Research (SESAR) programme, thus have considerable implications for the military. The European Defence Agency (EDA) will outline the military perspectives on SESAR at a seminar at the World ATM Congress in Madrid on 8 March.

EDA supports its Member States in the identification of the military operational and financial risks expected with the implementation of SESAR. The Agency facilitates also the coordination of military views by gathering input and requirements from Ministries of Defence.

At the World ATM Congress in Madrid, the European Defence Agency organises for the first time a seminar to outline military perspectives on SESAR. High-level speakers from the Agency, the Spanish Air Force, SESAR Joint Undertaking, SESAR Deployment Manager, EUROCONTROL and NATO will discuss challenges and opportunities stemming from SESAR for the armed forces. The seminar will take place on 8 March, 14:30 – 16:00, in the Delegate Theatre. To attend the seminar, you need to register for the World ATM Congress (free, see link below). More details on the agenda and speakers are available here.

In addition to the EDA led seminar, Agency staff will also provide contributions to the following seminars taking place during the World ATM Congress:

• The European ATM Standards Coordination Group (EASCG), Tuesday, 8 March, 10:30-13:30 
• SESAR JU seminar on the ATM Master Plan 2015, Wednesday, 9 March, 15:30-17:30
• SESAR JU seminar on “SESAR and the military”, Thursday, 10 March, 11:30-12:30

• EDA seminar at World ATM Congress - agenda
• SESAR and the military - project page
• SESAR JU at the World ATM Congress website and full agenda
• World ATM Congress

Exercise Cold Blade 2016 is planned to be held in Ivalo in Northern Finland from 7 till 18 March 2016 under the framework of the EDA Helicopter Exercise Programme (HEP), hosted by the Finnish Defence Forces. Its location clearly suggests the main focus: environmental training in cold and snowy conditions.

The remote location enables the helicopter crews to test and learn flight procedures in free airspace, uninhabited areas and in a snowy and cold environment. White-out landings and approaches, navigation and NVG flights are some examples of the tactics, techniques and procedures that will be conducted during Cold Blade 2016. In addition to flight training, this versatile exercise gives the helicopter crews an opportunity to train in winter survival in the arctic conditions.

Eight helicopters and approximately 180 persons will take part in Cold Blade 2016. Together with the Host Nation helicopter unit, Germany will deploy their CH-53GA helicopters to the remote area.

The distinguished visitor’s day will be held on 15 March 2016.

Another HEP exercise, Black Blade 2016, is planned in Belgium between 14 November and 2 December 2016, focusing on Special Operations Forces (SOF) missions.

• COLD BLADE 2016 factsheet 
• Helicopter Initiatives project page

The first European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course (EAATTC) of 2016 is taking place in Zaragoza Airbase, Spain, from 14 to 26 February. Aircraft and crews from Belgium, Spain, Germany and Poland, together with instructors from the European Air Transport Command (EATC), Italy and the staff of the European Defence Agency (EDA) are engaged in an intelligence driven programme that will see the crews complete complex multi-threat missions in a challenging winter mountain environment.  Additionally, for the first time, a selection of crews will operate in the same high threat conditions, but with the added burden of operating at night with sole reference to Night Vision Goggle (NVG) technology and the natural light of moon and stars.   

The training starts with academics sessions, followed by a challenging low level navigation exercise that allows a brief familiarisation of the area and the rough landing grounds before. Crews are faced with a seemingly familiar but fictitious scenario progressing from a surface-to-air to an air-to-air threats environment. As this edition of the EAATTC is also dedicated to the new advanced NVG course, the night crews are confronted with the same insurgent scenario as the daylight crews. Eight flights are planned for the NVG course.   

The European Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Course aims to provide air transport crews with a robust airlift tactics training syllabus in order to enhance interoperability between European air forces. It takes crews into a theatre-deployment mindset, exposing them to airland and airdrop missions in a tactically challenging environment. Emphasis is put on aircraft operations and on application of procedures in a changing environment. The EAATTC training series is an integral component of the wider 20-nation European Air Transport Fleet Partnership.

• EAATTC16-1 factsheet 
• Flickr album with pictures from the event (will be updated throughout the exercise)
• For updates on twitter use #EAATTC.

The European Defence Agency (EDA) and an industrial consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space have launched today a new project to contribute to the integration of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) into common airspace in Europe.

A contract for the Enhanced RPAS Automation (ERA) project was signed between the EDA and a multinational industrial consortium in mid-December 2015. The project will support the widespread use of both civil and military RPAS in non-segregated airspace in Europe in general and their integration in airport operations in particular, addressing several capability gaps identified in the European RPAS Steering Group (ERSG) Roadmap for RPAS air traffic insertion. The project will contribute to setting the European standards that will provide the technical grounds for the certification of the Automatic Take-off and Landing, Autotaxi and Automation and Emergency Recovery functionalities, in the frame of the regulatory framework currently being produced.

To achieve these goals, technical and procedural solutions will be developed, and demonstrated by simulations and flight trials. Additionally, the project includes the development of draft standards in cooperation with the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE). The project also relies on active collaboration with other important stakeholders, such as the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Eurocontrol.

Roland Van Reybroeck, EDA Director Cooperation Planning & Support explains: ”ERA complements the air traffic integration efforts of other related EDA projects, such as MIDCAS (MID-air Collision Avoidance System) covering en-route Detect & Avoid and DESIRE (Demonstration of Satellites enabling the Insertion of RPAS in Europe) covering satellite command and control data links. These projects, strongly driven by military requirements, have achieved tangible results but there is a need to proceed with further investments, also in view of establishing dual-use standards and meeting civil regulation requirements.”

ERA is an EDA ad-hoc project launched by five Member States: France, Italy, Poland, Sweden and Germany as the lead nation. The planned duration of the project is 42 months with an overall budget of around €31 million (excl. VAT).

The ERA industrial consortium is led by Airbus Defence and Space, and composed of sixteen partners from five EDA Member States: Airbus Defence and Space and ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH  from Germany; Sagem, Thales and ONERA from France; Saab from Sweden; Finmeccanica from Italy; and nine partners from Poland: Air Force Institute of Technology (leadership Polish consortium), Institute of Aviation, Hertz Systems Ltd., EUROTECH, PIAP (Przemysłowy Instytut Automatyki i Pomiarów), Eskadra Grzegorz Trzeciak, Politechnika Rzeszowska (Rzeszow University of Technology - RUT), WB Electronics S.A., Asseco Poland S.A.

RPAS have demonstrated their importance in recent military operations, particularly for surveillance and information gathering. However RPAS can also offer a wide range of civil applications such as infrastructure surveillance, firefighting, disaster or environmental monitoring, as well as border control and management. RPAS have been earmarked as one of four capability development priorities by the December 2013 European Council.

The European Defence Agency has divided its work in the field of RPAS into five main areas: (1) Integration of military RPAS in non-segregated civilian airspace; (2) Certification of future military RPAS; (3) Development of cutting-edge technologies for future European RPAS; (4) Establishment of a community of military RPAS users in Europe; (5) Support to the development of a European medium-altitude long endurance (Male) RPAS to be operational by 2025.

• RPAS project page

The Greek Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos accompanied by officials of the Ministry of Defence as well as industry representatives visited the Agency today for discussions on Greece’s involvement in EDA projects, ways to further enhance defence cooperation as well as to exchange views on issues related to the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base with focus on SMEs and access to supply chains. 

Introducing the meeting, EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq thanked Minister Kammenos for Greek’s active involvement in many of the Agency’s projects. Greece is for example a strong supporter of the EDA’s energy and environment workstrand, the military airworthiness forum, maritime initiatives and regularly participates in air transport training and education events.

The Greek delegation received presentations on selected Agency projects among which cyber defence, logistic support and support to operations as well as access to EU funds. 

During the discussions Mr. Domecq outlined EDA’s work in support of defence industry and invited the Hellenic defence industry to stay close to the Agency’s activities in order to maximize the benefits. 

• News "EDA Chief Executive visits Athens" (22 April 2015)
• Cyber defence project page
• Support to operations page
• Access to EU funding page

The EU Military Committee (EUMC) under the chairmanship of General Mikhail Kostarakos today convened at the European Defence Agency (EDA).

EDA Chief Executive Jorge Domecq emphasised in his introduction to the meeting that with the forthcoming Global Strategy, the European Commission Defence Action Plan as well as the NATO summit in Warsaw, this year would be a ‘cross roads’ for European defence cooperation. He furthermore expressed his satisfaction over the enhanced ties between the EDA and the EUMC.

Following a presentation of EDA’s work regarding Single European Sky / SESAR, Military Representatives exchanged views on the way ahead. The EU Military Staff (EUMS) then briefed the Committee on the ongoing interaction between EDA and EUMC/EUMS in ongoing CSDP operations and on the operationalisation of capabilities. 

• European Union Military Committee (EUMC)
• Single European Sky project page