Europe’s SEA Defence Project Kicks Off Officially

The Netherlands-led consortium for European Defense Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP)-funded SEA Defence project announced its official start on Thursday.

The European Commission (EC) selected the SEA Defence project in June 2019. The EDIDP, which paves the way for the European Defence Fund, focuses on strengthening the European defence technological and industrial base, as well as on increasing the EU's autonomy and technological leadership.

The SEA Defence kick-off took place on December 14th and was attended by representatives of the consortium, of the EC and of the participating EU Member States. Earlier last week, the Grant Agreement, worth a total of €14.29M, was signed by the EC, marking an important step in EU naval cooperation.

SEA Defence is a collaboration of SEA Naval, including Damen, Naval Group, Navantia, SAAB Kockums, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Lürssen Defence, TNO, MARIN, Odense Maritime Technology, CTN, and still to be completed by key partners who took place in the proposal preparation phase. SEA Naval is the naval working group of SEA Europe (the European Shipyards and Equipment Association).

SEA Defence is a feasibility study, which aims to provide a roadmap of technologies to be included in next generation of naval platforms and pursued in further European development programmes. It is supported by participating EU Member States, led by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.

The study will address the following issues: lower detectability, higher survivability against modern surface and subsurface threats including against high-speed and swarming threats, reduction of ship motions, improved electric power generation and storage, capability to operate in extreme climates, topside and increased autonomy and automation. For each area, the project will map the state-of-the-art technologies, and will assess the impact of ship integration on capabilities, budget and interfaces. It will also provide recommendations in order that the European naval shipbuilding sector can realise innovations ready for the next generation naval platforms, from their design or during their lifecycle.