INTRACOM DEFENCE (IDE) has signed a €42 million Grant Agreement (No. 101168046 ACTUS–EDF-2023-DA) with the European Defence Fund (EDF) as the Coordinator of the cross-European consortium of the ACTUS project (“Advanced Capabilities & Certification for Tactical UAV Systems”), following a competitive evaluation process involving leading European manufacturers. 

The ACTUS project, with a duration of 48 months under the EDF 2023 programme, aims to support the technological development of European Tactical Unmanned Systems (UAVs), LOTUS and PATROLLER, to meet the common operational requirements of the Ministries of Defence (MoDs) from six European Union member states (Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Greece, Sweden) and Norway. 

The agreement covers the study, design, prototyping, testing, evaluation, certification, and efficiency improvement of European Tactical Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (T-RPAS).

Also read: Intracom Defense | Certification for LOTUS drone and military aeronautical product design

The ACTUS Kick-off Meeting was held in Athens on 17–18 December 2024, bringing together the involved MoDs and consortium partners to lay the foundations for the project’s successful implementation. All participants expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the meeting, while work has already begun in full force.

The ACTUS consortium comprises 23 partners from nine EU member states and Norway: Austria (AIT Austrian Institute of Technology), Belgium (ULPOWER AERO ENGINES NV), Cyprus (CY.R.I.C Cyprus Research & Innovation Center, GEOIMAGING, SIGNALGENERIX), Finland (Patria, Robonic), France (SAFRAN Electronics & Defense, THALES LAS FRANCE SAS), Germany (AES Aerospace Embedded Solutions, DIEHL DEFENCE, TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN), Greece (ALTUS LSA Commercial & Manufacturing, DIADIKASIA Business Consulting, Hellenic Aerospace Industry, IDE, ISD, University of Patras, REALISCAPE), Spain (EMBENTION SISTEMAS INTELIGENTES), Sweden (SAAB AKTIEBOLAG), Norway (SAFRAN Sensing Technologies Norway, UBIQ Aerospace). 

The Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, along with the MoDs of Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France, Sweden, and Norway, not only co-funds the project but will also support its implementation in a highly constructive manner. 

In particular, the contribution of the Hellenic MoD to the above effort is crucial, as it will also act as the Project Manager of the ACTUS project.

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