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France’s TRAAK and Greece’s FEAC win EDA’s Innovation Prize, 2024

EDA News - Wed, 22/01/2025 - 16:10

The European Defence Agency (EDA) Defence Innovation Prize for 2024 was awarded at the Agency's annual conference in Brussels. The Prize focused on two critical areas: Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection, and Cognitive Sensing for Enhanced Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Systems.

An eye on the seabed

In the first category of Critical Maritime Infrastructure Protection, Greece-based FEAC Engineering was recognised for its system designed to improve the monitoring and protection of maritime infrastructure. FEAC, a Greek company founded in 2014 by brothers Sotiris and Charilaos Kokkinos. It specialises in Digital Twin technology to create digital replicas of physical objects, as well as engineering physics-based simulations and artificial intelligence for predictive analytics. With expertise and an understanding of scientific principles, FEAC delivers engineering and IT solutions, from conceptual design and performance simulation to implementation.

FEAC's proposal focuses on the development and widespread implementation of its proprietary PITHIA Platform, designed to protect critical maritime infrastructure. PITHIA, generates real-time, high-fidelity digital models of assets such as harbour installations, underwater pipelines, offshore wind turbines, and communication cables, integrating various data sources for real-time monitoring. It supports predictive technical maintenance based on both historical and real-time data and addresses other threats, including military-like risks.

This AI-enhanced approach identifies patterns and anomalies, enabling accurate threat responses, enhanced situational awareness, and high operational readiness of maritime assets. Its agility and adaptability by design can significantly strengthen maritime security across the EU. "We try to bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds," Charilaos Kokkinos told the conference. 

Tracking in 3D

In the second category of Cognitive Sensing for ISTAR Systems, TRAAK, a French company, was recognised for its PIXYS 3D system. TRAAK, established in 2020 by Thomas Duroyon and Pierre-Arnaud Coquelin, specialises in developing geolocation and biometric tracking solutions for challenging and complex environments.

TRAAK’s PIXYS 3D system addresses critical challenges in battlefield navigation, communication, and Blue Force Tracking. With its capability for precise outdoor, indoor, and underground positioning, it offers an operational advantage on modern battlefields and in urban warfare scenarios.

"It has been developed in-house," Duroyon said. "We are completely independent from any technology that exists today. We can be deployed in a few minutes, regardless of the environment."

PIXYS 3D, based on unique, patented European geolocation technology, delivers a sovereign, rapidly deployable solution with metric-level accuracy. This mobile 3D positioning system provides operators with live navigation across indoor and outdoor environments, particularly in urban or underground areas or in settings affected by electronic interference, where traditional geolocation systems such as GNSS prove ineffective. With its customisable, open hardware and firmware architecture, PIXYS 3D is designed to enhance operational awareness and AI-supported decision-making for defence and state security customers.

EDA’s Innovation Prize

The EDA Defence Innovation Prize, first awarded in 2018, includes €30,000 in funding for each winner to advance their innovations. Winners also gain access to the EDA’s network of experts and will present their work to the agency’s Capability Technology Groups (CapTechs), potentially paving the way for broader implementation in European defence initiatives.  EDA RTI Director Nathalie Guichard awarded the prize.

 

The prize forms part of the Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI), established in 2022 to promote collaborative and innovative solutions within the defence sector. HEDI seeks to involve non-traditional defence contributors, such as civil research organisations and start-ups, to ensure European armed forces have real-time access to emerging technologies. 

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Commissioner Kubilius urges 'big bang' in EU defence, Ukraine sees funding gap

EDA News - Wed, 22/01/2025 - 12:32

Shortfalls in European Union military materiel are “colossal,” and the European Union needs a “big bang” approach, Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, told the European Defence Agency’s annual conference. Ukraine’s Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov also told the conference that his country had the capacity to produce more weaponry but faced a financing shortfall in 2025 of around €18 billion. 

"The shortfalls in military materiel, if we compare with the Russian war economy, are colossal. We can no longer afford a fragmented and incremental approach. We need a real, big bang approach to increase defence production and acquisition. We also need a European approach," Commissioner Kubilius said.

General Onno Eichelsheim, The Netherlands' Chief of Defence, told the conference that what was good for Ukraine was good for NATO and good for the European Union. He also called for grouping together Member States' demands when ordering from industry.

Galileo, Europe’s flagship satellite navigation programme, shows what European collective ambition and cooperation can achieve, Kubilius said. Kubilius added: “We need to consolidate our industrial efforts, starting with research and development, and ensure that Europe builds its own production capacity. Galileo has shown us what can be achieved through cooperation. Now we need that same energy in defence.”

In the context of the EU’s approach to defence, this involves creating a unified effort, pooling resources, and prioritising projects such as air defence, cyber shields, and military mobility, he said. Kubilius, who served two terms as Lithuania's prime minister (from 1999 to 2000 and from 2008 to 2012), also paid tribute to the EDA after it celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.

Ukraine’s rising armament production, funding gap 

Ukraine’s Umerov, in his speech to the conference via video link, said that Kyiv had become a leader in military manufacturing. He said his country was now the largest manufacturer of military autonomous systems worldwide, with the ability to produce over 4.5 million drones annually.

Between 2023 and 2024, Ukraine’s artillery systems production tripled, while production of armoured personnel carriers increased fivefold, he said. Other key military capabilities have seen similar growth, with ammunition production rising by 2.5 times and the production of anti-tank weapons doubling.

Ukraine has also ramped up its missile production capacity, with plans to produce 3,000 missiles in 2025. According to Umerov, long-range drones developed in response to the war have played a pivotal role in the conflict, destroying more than 300 strategic targets inside Russian territory.

However, more funding is needed to reach Ukraine's military production potential. While the country’s defence industry capacity is set to reach €34 billion by 2025, the available funding stands at only €16 billion, leaving a crucial gap of €18 billion that must be addressed to sustain and enhance production efforts. “We ask you to help us close this existing gap in financing, facilitate the transfer of technology, and set up strategic partnerships with our industry,” Umerov said. 

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New EDA Head Kallas calls for EU Single Market for defence

EDA News - Wed, 22/01/2025 - 09:55

The European Union must bind its defence industry close together and develop weapons systems collaboratively, the new Head of the European Defence Agency (EDA), High Representative Kaja Kallas, told the 2025 EDA Annual Conference. She also called for the Agency to do more. 

“We need to consolidate our defence industry and develop common weapons systems,” Kallas said. “Our European defence industry could then utilise the same military systems and help Member States’ militaries become more interoperable ... the EU should also work towards establishing a Single Market for Defence.”

Kallas said that the EU does not require a single European armed force but rather 27 militaries capable of working together to deter and defend against any threat, particularly from Russia. Addressing over 400 participants at the Concert Noble in Brussels and more than 800 online attendees, Kallas’ vision reinforced the EDA’s mission as it leads Europe’s response to renewed security challenges.

In her first major policy speech since taking office in December, Kallas warned that the time for papers and declarations had passed. “Russia’s defence industry is churning out tanks, artillery shells, and glide bombs faster than we can match. This is a heavily militarised country, spending over a third of its national budget on the military, three times what it spent before the war. We must be realistic about the scale of this threat,” she said.

Sławomir Wojciechowski, Poland’s Military Representative to NATO and the EU Military Committee, speaking on behalf of Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, said that: “For Europe, Russia's aggressive policy poses a real and direct threats to security. We must remember that Russia's objectives are not limited to Ukraine. A hypothetical victory for Moscow in Ukraine will be equivalent to the disintegration of the existing security architecture.” 

Support to Ukraine and links to U.S., Britain

Kallas noted that the EU has so far provided €134 billion in support to Ukraine, including €50 billion in military aid. Additionally, the EU has trained 75,000 Ukrainian soldiers and imposed sanctions. “The Ukrainians are not just fighting for their freedom; they are defending ours too,” Kallas said. Collaboration with the United States and Britain remains essential, Kallas said, adding that the EU should be open to a new security agreement with London, now that Britain is outside the bloc.

General Brieger, Chairman of the EU Military Committee, told the conference: "For future success, we have to transform three levels in parallel: institutionally at the EU level; nationally, at the level of Member States; and in our mindset, on a personal level. For sure, this has to be coordinated to become, more and more, a real union of defence." 

Both Kallas and EDA Chief Executive Jiří Šedivý, who opened the conference, underlined that NATO remains the cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic security. However, both stressed that the EU must ensure it can act decisively and independently if necessary. The EDA is instrumental in achieving this goal, Šedivý said. He said: “Over the past decade, the amount of projects we manage has grown from around 200 million euros to over one billion euros per year.”  

By fostering defence integration, it helps Member States pool resources, enhance interoperability, and address critical capability gaps in areas such as air defence, long-range missiles, and military mobility. 

“If Europeans don’t get serious about defence, there will be no Europe as we know it left to defend,” Kallas warned. 

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M1147 120mm Rounds Enter Production | Mavi Vatan Wrapped Up | Airbus Delivered First H225Ms to France

Defense Industry Daily - Wed, 22/01/2025 - 05:00
Americas According to Defense Post, AeroVironment has been contracted to deliver Switchblade loitering munitions as part of the US Army’s Directed Requirement for Lethal Unmanned Systems (LUS). The $55.3-million contract is the second order of the 5-year contract awarded to the company in August with a ceiling of $900 million. The LUS requirement is intended to enhance infantry soldiers’ ability to neutralize fortified targets such as armored vehicles and tanks. The US Army has approved the full-rate production of its M1147 120mm Advanced Multi-Purpose (AMP) round, designed to provide next-generation firepower to M1 Abrams main battle tanks. Announced on Friday, the decision moves the M1147 program beyond low-rate initial production, providing a critical capability to meet the needs of both the US Army and its international partners. Middle East & Africa The Turkish navy wrapped up the weeklong Mavi Vatan 2025 exercise, a large-scale operation meant to showcase Ankara’s strategic maritime ambitions in the region and beyond. The Mavi Vatan (Blue Homeland) doctrine, introduced in 2019, symbolizes the country’s shift from a land-focused power to a maritime force, prioritizing the protection of its maritime zones. It reflects a broader transformation of the Turkish navy into a high-seafaring force capable of extended operations. […]
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Microvane Technology Ready to Modernize C-17s | US Announced Lebanon Aid | Lithuania Wants to Raise Defense Spending

Defense Industry Daily - Tue, 21/01/2025 - 05:00
Americas After years of testing and refinement, the US Air Force’s microvane program is nearing full implementation across it’s C-17 fleet. These small, strategically placed devices are set to reduce aerodynamic drag and increase fuel efficiency by redirecting airflow around the aircraft’s fuselage, proving that even the most mature aircraft designs can be enhanced. Air Force Operational Energy and Air Mobility Command are now in the final stages of evaluating the microvane technology. The microvanes themselves are deceptively simple: small, 3D-printed devices, measuring approximately 4 x 16 inches, and shaped like a thin blade. These are attached to the rear of the C-17’s fuselage using strong adhesive bonding. The Peruvian Navy has christened and launched two Pativilca-class offshore patrol vessels as part of its effort to strengthen national maritime operations. The BAP Río Huarmey (PM 210) and BAP Río Nepeña (PM 211) are two of 10 boats planned under the program for surveillance, anti-piracy, environment response protection, and search and rescue tasks. Middle East & Africa The US announced Saturday it would donate more than $117-million in security assistance for Lebanon’s armed forces, as the crisis-hit country seeks to implement a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. The State Department said […]
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United States : Marco Rubio's new State Department tool to fight disinformation unveiled

Intelligence Online - Mon, 20/01/2025 - 06:00
As Donald Trump today begins his second term as president, his Secretary of State Marco Rubio is inheriting some of the leadership that US diplomacy has already acquired in the fight against foreign disinformation. According to Intelligence Online sources, the former [...]
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France : France's bid to boost criminal intelligence

Intelligence Online - Mon, 20/01/2025 - 06:00
From Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin's promise to build a high-security prison for the 100 biggest drug traffickers to Interior Minister [...]
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United States : Planet Labs worried about Trump administration's geospatial intelligence plans

Intelligence Online - Mon, 20/01/2025 - 06:00
Among the space defence sector leaders hoping for posts in the new Trump administration, which officially comes into operation today, [...]
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China/France/Indonesia/Russia/United States : French PM's intelligence decider, Indonesia strategist in Paris, Campus Cyber, China/Russia media cooperation, DNI and climate change

Intelligence Online - Mon, 20/01/2025 - 06:00
France - French PMs' decision maker on intelligence-gatheringWhenever the French prime minister changes, one woman in particular is often the [...]
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Pakistan : Pakistan developing smart bombs for export

Intelligence Online - Mon, 20/01/2025 - 06:00
Pakistan's Qaswa Industries is expecting to present a prototype of its small diameter guided bomb (SDB) AZB-81LR, to the Pakistan [...]
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France : ADIT and Amarante International up stakes as merger rumours swell

Intelligence Online - Mon, 20/01/2025 - 06:00
Amarante International and the leading French corporate intelligence company ADIT, chaired by Philippe Caduc, have not entered into any official [...]
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Lockheed Tapped For Canadas AEGIS Operating Ships | Iran unveils Underground Naval Base | Philippines Hold Exercise In South China Sea

Defense Industry Daily - Mon, 20/01/2025 - 05:00
Americas Lockheed Martin won a $280.4 million for combat systems engineering efforts of the planned modernization and new combat system capabilities selection for international partner Canadian Royal Navy ships operating AEGIS. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey and is expected to be completed by January 2028. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC is the contracting activity. Mustang Advanced Engineering won an $11.3 million contract for a test stand capable of testing both left-hand and right-hand V-22 PropRotor Gearbox Input Quill assemblies for the V-22 aircraft. This includes all mechanical, electrical, software, and control systems, as well as ancillary subsystems required to test either PropRotor Gearbox Input Quills. This contract was competed as a small business set aside with four offers received. Naval Air Systems Command, Commander Fleet Readiness Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa The naval arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards unveiled an underground base housing dozens of assault boats equipped with missile launchers in footage aired by state television on Saturday. The broadcaster did not reveal the location of the base, saying only that it served Iran’s strategic “southern waters” — the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of […]
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Latest news - Next SEDE meetings - Subcommittee on Security and Defence


27/28 January 2025:

The constitutive meeting of the Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE) is scheduled to take place on Monday, 27 January 2025 from 15:00-18:30 followed by the first meeting of the full-fledged SEDE Committee on Tuesday, 28 January 2025 from 9:00-12:30 and 14:30-18:30 in Brussels (SPINELLI 1G3).

Further information about the meeting can be found here.

_______________________

SEDE missions 2024:
  • Ukraine - 25-26 October 2024
  • United Kingdom - 28-30 October 2024



SEDE meetings' calendar 2025
SEDE meetings' calendar 2nd half of 2024 - 10th legislature
EP calendar 2024
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

United States : Washington DC's Mayflower Hotel, in the shadow of J. Edgar Hoover and Donald Trump

Intelligence Online - Fri, 17/01/2025 - 06:00
The start of Donald Trump's second term in office on Monday will give the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC an opportunity to reconnect with its rich history, closely linked as it is to the US presidency. The hotel that opened [...]
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France/Vietnam : French companies hone their space intelligence business strategy in Hanoi

Intelligence Online - Fri, 17/01/2025 - 06:00
The French-Italian joint venture Thales Alenia Space (TAS) is clinging on to hopes that it may yet be able to [...]
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Russia/United States : Nord Stream 2 buyout: Stephen Lynch, the man who loved pipelines

Intelligence Online - Fri, 17/01/2025 - 06:00
A Wall Street Journal report on 21 November that US investor Stephen Lynch was interested in buying the Nord Stream [...]
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United States : Tech startup Deel faces accusations of helping Russian entities evade US sanctions

Intelligence Online - Fri, 17/01/2025 - 06:00
A San Francisco-based payroll and human resources company is facing accusations that it has helped Russian companies evade sanctions, according [...]
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Italy : Equalize probe reveals arsenal of cyber-intelligence tools deployed by investigators

Intelligence Online - Fri, 17/01/2025 - 06:00
The investigation into Italian corporate intelligence firm Equalize's use of illegal cyber espionage is still in full swing in Italy. [...]
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Uruguay Acquires 5 Super Tucanos From Embraer | Lithuania Gets More JLTVs | DoS Apprvoes Missile Sale To Japan

Defense Industry Daily - Fri, 17/01/2025 - 05:00
Americas The Uruguayan Air Force (FAU) has acquired five A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from Brazilian firm Embraer. The deal includes mission equipment, integrated logistics services, and a flight simulator. “We are ready to offer the best multimission aircraft to the FAU as well as our full support to increase their operational readiness and to enhance their capabilities to accomplish strategic missions such as border surveillance,” said Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer. Boeing won an $18.5 million delivery order for the repair of R2 trailing edge flaps used on the F/A-18 E/F aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in Jacksonville, Florida and work is expected to be completed by January 2027. Annual working capital (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,055,200 will be obligated at the time of award, and funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One company was solicited for this sole-source requirement pursuant to the authority set forth in 10 US Code 2304 (c)(1), with one offer received. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Africa The Republic of Zambia is set to enhance its air capabilities […]
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U.S. Approves Japan’s Purchase of More AGM-158 JASSMs in $39 Million Deal

The Aviationist Blog - Thu, 16/01/2025 - 23:47

After the acquisition of 50 AGM-158B JASSM-ER missiles last year, Japan has now been granted the approval for 16 additional AGM-158s, reinforcing the JASDF’s long-range stand-off strike capabilities of the F-15J, F-35 and possibly other assets. The United States’ DSCA (Defense Security Cooperation Agency)  announced on Jan. 15, 2025, the approval of a possible sale […]

The post U.S. Approves Japan’s Purchase of More AGM-158 JASSMs in $39 Million Deal appeared first on The Aviationist.

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