Public procurement notice: Prior Information Notice Without Call For Competition
Published: 2024-05-17
Region: BE100
Contract type: Services
CPV classification: 35610000: Military aircraft | 35613000 | 35630000 | 71241000 | 73000000
Estimated value: 2900000 EUR
Submission deadline: 2024-05-17
EU fund: eu-funds

Technical requirements: In the context of the cluster of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) related projects that aim at providing the sought “UAS Enablers for Safe Airspace Integration in European Skyes”, the European Defence Agency (EDA) intends to launch a tender with four lots to support the progress of safe airspace integration of UAS, from low level to high altitude operations (HAO).
--------
As part of the forthcoming tender, EDA is organising an information session 04 July 2024, to be held virtually, via WebEx (see below additional information).
--------
Lot 1: UAS Single European Sky Experimental Integration:
In a drive to elevate the capabilities of European-made low-cost tactical UAS for precision navigation, the new project focuses on two key objectives. Firstly, it seeks to enhance their operational resilience in challenging environments for safe airspace integration – specifically those with limited or denied GNSS access and potential electronic jamming threats. Secondly, the project will leverage recent breakthroughs in EU space-based services alongside onboard sensor fusion powered by artificial intelligence. This integration aims to achieve unwavering navigation accuracy regardless of spectrum availability, demonstrably validating its effectiveness through real-world proof-of-concept and demonstration phases. The successful development of these advanced navigation capabilities for UAS aims to ensure their safe integration into the airspace.
--------Lot 2: Risk Assessment for UAS operations:
The objective of this lot is to expand the current online tool supporting the MIL-UAS-SPECIFIC methodology (see EDA webpage https://eda.europa.eu/mil-uas-specific-study) to automatize most of the risk assessment process by leveraging the – regularly updated - MIL-UAS-SPECIFIC methodology or any other harmonised Risk assessment methodology accepted by the military (e.g., SORA). The current online tool will become a “networking/connecting” online tool, with selectable Risk assessment methodologies running back office, including a selectable accepted risk level for the UAS operations to cover operations in peace, crisis and war times.
--------
Lot 3: Higher Airspace Operations (HAO) study:
HAO have been in the spotlight. The upcoming EASA regulatory work requires that the civil–military aspects are included. The objective is to clarify specific civil–military aspects in the domain of HAO in order to: a) analyse the security risks; b) Address potential challenges in order to avoid any adverse impact on national security and defence capabilities with an EU approach; c) Ensure military access to higher airspace. Take advantage of all opportunities, particularly those offered by the civil-military collaboration make the most of the identified synergies.
--------
Lot 4: Consultancy services for needs assessment, market research and consultation, analysis of the state-of-the-art:
The surge in small and mid-sized UAS operating under the “specific” category of operations, is prompting collaboration between authorities, regulators, and UAS operators to ensure safe integration into existing airspace. This project aims to bridge the gap by assessing the specific needs of military UAS users and leverage the dual-use technology towards the safe integration into European airspace. This project has two key objectives: a) to understand end-user needs for safe airspace integration. b) to evaluate technologies for enhanced UAS integration, including the analysis of state-of-the-art of current conspicuity, ATM and positioning technologies within the EU market, that can enable safe UAS integration. c) the organisation of market consultation sessions with stakeholders