European Commission invests $1.1 billion in cutting-edge defense projects

The European Commission has announced that it will allocate substantial funds to develop over 50 international R&D projects. Among them are projects for the construction of modern main battle tanks, such as MARTE (Main Armored Tank of Europe) and FMBTech (Technologies for existing and Future MBTs), as well as projects for corvettes, air systems, and laser energy weapons. But what exactly are these projects about?

On May 16 this year, the European Commission announced a significant investment in European defense. Under the European Defense Fund (EDF), it will invest over $1.1 billion to support 54 R&D projects to enhance capabilities in cyber defense, ground combat, air and naval combat, and the protection of space resources.

Army Recognition points out two key initiatives that focus on developing advanced main battle tanks. These are the MARTE (Main Battle Armored Tank of Europe) project, led by a German company, and the FMBTech (Technologies for Existing and Future MBTs) project, led by a French company. These projects unite over 70 enterprises and research organizations from various countries, joining forces to create a central battle platform across Europe.

The MARTE project is led by the MARTE ARGE GbR consortium, which includes defense industries from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania, Spain, Belgium, Norway, Greece, Romania, Finland, and the Netherlands. MARTE aims to develop a new main battle tank (MBT) platform that meets current battlefield requirements and can be adapted to future threats and needs by integrating innovative and breakthrough technologies.

Additionally, MARTE aims to provide a platform offering the highest quality protection, detection, and firepower while increasing its cost-effectiveness and lifecycle efficiency compared to existing solutions. The project is planned for 24 months and has a budget of over $22 million.

The second major project, FMBTech, aims to enable existing and future European main battle tanks to achieve maximum operational performance. This project is planned for 36 months with a nearly $22 million budget. The entities will define and identify the best innovative technologies within a modular main battle tank (MBT) system architecture. This will allow the tanks to boost operational efficiency within future land combat scenarios by providing state-of-the-art capabilities throughout their service life.

According to the European Commission, the FMBTech program will transform the main battle tank into a digitalized hub, offering better interaction with unmanned systems and enhanced crew performance thanks to artificial intelligence. Interestingly, Polish entities are also involved in developing this project, including the Research and Development Center for Mechanical Devices OBRUM Ltd., the Jarosław Dąbrowski Military University of Technology, and the Military Institute of Armored and Automotive Technology.