Navantia consolidates its European leadership in defense R&D with six leading projects

Large projects

Navantia reinforces its position in Europe by participating in six research and development projects that have been selected by the European Commission in the 2023 call for the European Defense Fund (EDF). These projects are EPC2, OPTIMAS, ADMIRABLE, E=MCM, SEACURE and E-CUAS.

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The projects are framed in relevant areas of technological innovation in defense, such as the development of the European Patrol Corvette (EPC), as a joint project associated with PESCO in which Italy, France, Spain and Greece. Navantia leads two of these projects, OPTIMAS focused on the development of secure high-speed optical communications links, key for applications such as operations with unmanned vehicles, as well as the ADMIRABLE project, focused on innovation in materials to improve survival and optimize the construction of naval platforms. The projects E=MCM, SEACURE and E-CUAS They focus on capabilities of high importance for the EU and its security, such as, respectively, Mine Warfare, Anti-Submarine and Seabed Warfare and War against aerial drones (UAS); scenarios that have gained great relevance due to the proliferation of new weapons and threats that make the development of new technologies and systems necessary.

 

El EPC2 project will address the second phase of the European Patrol Corvette, in the context of the project PESCO and with the consortium formed by Naviris, Fincantieri, Naval Group, Navantia and Hydrus. The initial design of the first phase will be completed, a contract that is currently being managed by the OCCAR (Organization for Armament Cooperation) and the prototype of each of the two variants of the new generation multirole modular corvette will be built: long-range multipurpose and full combat multipurpose. The scope includes port testing of the prototypes and the development of a land-based center for system testing and qualification.

 

Navantia leads the OPTIMAS Project, this project aims to design and develop a prototype of a high-speed free-space laser communications system, to be used with different satellite constellations (LEO, MEO, GEO), with multi-domain application for ground, naval and air and the ability to incorporate quantum key distribution (QKD). The prototype focuses on the demonstration of the high-speed optical link between an unmanned aerial vehicle and a low-orbit satellite. 12 entities from 7 countries are participating, including the Spanish SENER, University of Vigo, DAS PHOTONICS, Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands and the Center for Pulsed Lasers (CLPU) of Salamanca.

 

The project ADMIRABLE is focused on innovation in advanced manufacturing technologies and composite-based materials, with the aim of improving the operation and reducing the vulnerability of future naval platforms. The development of multi-functional materials, including the improvement in structural and electromagnetic characteristics, together with the optimization of manufacturing processes, will increase the survival of future European ships. This project is led by Navantia and includes 10 entities from 5 European nations. In addition to Navantia, the Spanish companies FIDAMC, DAS PHOTONICS and MICROMAG 2000 are participating.

 

Navantia participates in the project E=MCM whose objective is to develop a scalable System of Systems for Mine Warfare, including drifting, moored and buried mine threats. It will consist of advanced and scalable toolboxes for autonomous vehicles and intelligent platforms, as well as decision support functions. A prototype will be developed and a demonstration will be carried out at sea, in which Navantia will participate with the NAIAD system and a USV with mine sweeping and UUV deployment capabilities. The consortium is led by Naval Group Belgium and 21 entities from 11 nations participate, among which are the Spanish Navantia and Saes.

 

The project SEACURE is dedicated to Anti-Submarine Warfare and Seabed Warfare (Seabed), for which an integrated System of Systems based on unmanned vehicles will be designed and developed for critical infrastructure protection operations. The project includes the demonstration at sea of ​​a modular, agile and flexible system with the capacity to cover different missions and that integrates Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence (C4I), a set of unmanned vehicles in different domains (aerial, surface and submarine), as well as their corresponding payloads and effectors. Thales France leads the consortium, made up of 31 entities from 13 countries, in which Navantia participates on behalf of Spain.

 

El E-CUAS project will develop a system against unmanned aerial vehicles UAS class I, including military-grade drones such as loitering munitions, operating in isolation or in groups. This system can be deployed to protect critical infrastructure, both fixed and mobile, as well as naval platforms. The system integrates various types of sensors, both active and passive, as well as different effector technologies (hard kill and soft kill), command and control, cybersecurity, and network and communications infrastructure. The project is led by the Italian Leonardo and 24 companies from 13 countries participate, including the Spanish Navantia, Indra, Escribano, Aertec and INTA.

 

In this way, Navantia reinforces its position in Europe. The projects selected this year by the European Commission are framed in relevant areas of defense innovation in line with the strategic priorities established at the European and national level by the Ministry of Defense and the Spanish Navy.