The Hellenic Defence Innovation Center (HCDI) announced its Programmatic Horizon of Research and Development Projects for 2025, which will be implemented throughout the year. 

This framework outlines the operational and technological priorities to which HCDI aims to respond with the support of the defence innovation ecosystem.

The publication of the programmatic horizon enhances transparency in HCDI’s activities, mobilises and prepares the ecosystem regarding the priority thematic areas, and fosters productive dialogue and cooperation among interested stakeholders.

Also read: HCDI | Invitation to Participate in the Recording of the Potential and Prospects of the Hellenic Defence Innovation Ecosystem

At the same time, HCDI has issued two Request for Information (RFI) regarding:

1. a) The development of a critical infrastructure surveillance system using acoustic sensors for early detection and tracking of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
2. b) A transportable and dynamically deployable (ad hoc) maritime/air surveillance system.

The purpose of these consultations is for HCDI to gain a comprehensive understanding of the domestic ecosystem’s capabilities, including the availability and maturity of technical solutions in the market.

The information gathered will support informed decision-making on future tender processes, optimal utilisation of available technological solutions, integration of existing technologies through strategic synergies, and the promotion of sustainable business solutions.

Also read: HCDI | Notice of Calls to Expressions of Interest

Specifically, the two preliminary consultation calls concern:

1) Development of an Aerial Surveillance System Using Acoustic Sensors to Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS),designed to protect critical infrastructure by ensuring the timely detection of hostile UASs, regardless of weather conditions or the complexities of an urban environment.

The system will automatically detect, classify, locate, and track multiple UAS targets in real time by analysing their acoustic signals. It will be fully remote-controlled and will continuously improve its detection capabilities using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

2) Development of a transportable and dynamically deployable (ad hoc) maritime/aerial surveillance system for large areas,  designed for large-area monitoring with minimal size and weight, enabling rapid deployment on mobile units (such as vessels and land vehicles) or fixed locations, combining maximum flexibility with operational efficiency.

The system will be capable of instantly analysing data from multiple sensors and performing automatic detection, identification, and real-time tracking of multiple targets using AI technologies.

Also read: HCDI | Notice of Calls for Interest in the Fields of Unmanned Systems and Command, Control and Intelligence Systems