1st call for proposals for industrial reinforcement actions under the Ukraine Support Instrument

Expected Impact:

Projects are expected to deliver results aligned with the expected results set out in this call topic and to evidence their contribution through dedicated KPIs defined in the proposal.

Expected results include:

• demonstrable and sustainable increase in production capacity for the targeted ammunition, bombs and missiles production lines, enabled by operational joint filling plants and production lines;

• measurable reduction of production lead time from order/production decision to delivery in UA;

• improved timely availability and supply of defence products for UA, including increased delivery reliability and readiness of production lines;

• effective cross-border cooperation between UA and EU that enables production ramp-up, qualification, integration and sustainment.

Proposals shall define, baseline and track KPIs such as: filling throughput (e.g., units/month or tonnes/month as applicable), time-to-rate, lead-time reduction, line availability/uptime, acceptance/qualification output, qualified output delivered in UA, workforce trained where relevant, and indicators evidencing risk mitigation (e.g., safety performance and compliance readiness, supply robustness and maintainability readiness).

Objective:

This topic aims to reinforce missiles, ammunition and bombs readiness and their sovereign component base by enabling the rapid industrial reinforcement of Member States and Ukraine for key defence product (including subcomponents) production lines:

• air defence (conventional and non-conventional) missiles and ammunition (including counter-UxS systems);

• deep strike capabilities (including long-range missiles);

• rockets, (smart) bombs and loitering munitions.

Actions shall be aligned with the objectives, scope and priorities of this call topic, and implemented as Ira under USI in line with Regulation (EU) 2025/2643. Proposals are expected to ensure timely availability and supply of defence products for Ukraine, by scaling production capacity and industrial readiness for cross-border (EU-UA) industrial set-up in the form of:

• joint filling plants and production lines;

• reinforcement of specific production capacity and enablement capacity (including integration and validation/testing of alternative control and navigation approaches, production/integration of sensing and effector modules, multi-sensor fusion integration, and dedicated assembly/test capacity/production planning to sustain high monthly volumes, as applicable);

• scale-up of UA systems and ready-to-use production lines (including rapid-cycle modular assembly and re-configuration capacity to adapt to fast-evolving threats and mission profiles);

• MaaS (Manufacturing as a Service) (including rapid small-batch production, fast line changeover, and scalable assembly/test capacity for attritable UxS output);

• dual-use heavy industry conversion options for defence surge (including surge assembly/integration, test, packaging, and supporting infrastructure as applicable).

Applicants may include an optional dedicated Work Package (WP) implementing a supporting action as defined in Article 13(d) of Regulation (EU) 2025/2643, to reinforce the physical and cyber protection of the production capacity targeted by the action, including on security against UxS/drone-enabled threats. The objective is to reduce the risk of disruption, sabotage or interference affecting production continuity, ramp-up and deliveries, complementing the proposal’s overall risk-management approach (notably safety, supply-chain and obsolescence, industrialisation/integration, and maintainability risks) and supporting the achievement of the industrial KPIs set for lead time and capacity.

Scope:

Proposals shall implement Industrial Reinforcement Actions, in line with Regulation (EU) 2025/2643, targeting the specific defence product and production capacities listed under “Objectives pursued”.

Proposals shall demonstrate the criticality of the targeted defence product (including subcomponents) and justify the urgency of reinforcing their availability and security of supply through the proposed industrial reinforcement activities.

Proposals shall include a risk-management approach commensurate with industrial ramp-up in UA (including safety and regulatory compliance for energetic materials and filling activities, supply-chain and obsolescence, industrialisation/integration, maintainability, and operational constraints), and explain how risks are mitigated to ensure timely availability and supply of defence products in UA.

Activities linked to the physical and cyber protection WP may include expert threat assessment, procurement, installation and initial integration of proportionate solutions as well as efforts to connect to a national or European security system for: (i) counter-UxS site protection measures (detection/alerting and other authorised protective measures), and/or (ii) cyber protection measures of production-relevant networks and systems (including monitoring, hardening and secure access) which includes obtaining the European Union Cybersecurity Certification (EUCC) schemes for products used in the IRA activity, as well as acceptance testing and operational set-up necessary for effective deployment, in order to work towards compliance with the NIS2 Directive, where applicable, and alignment with standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 and IEC 62443.

Actions shall not have started before 5 March 2024 and shall not have been completed before the signature of the Grant Agreement (GA). The duration and the starting date of the action will be set out in the GA. The action shall have an indicative duration of three to five years; in any event, it shall be completed no later than 31 December 2033.

Budget

The Commission is considering a total budget of EUR 180 000 000 for the call for proposals.

The maximum EU contribution per funded project will not exceed EUR 30 000 000 allowing several proposals to be funded.

Depending on the number and quality of received proposals and the requested Union financial contributions, the Commission may decide to reallocate budget between calls.

The Commission is considering supporting specifically any optional work packages dedicated to the reinforcement of the physical and cyber protection of the industrial capacity targeted by the action, with a maximum EU contribution of EUR 500 000 per funded project.

Minimum financial size of the actions

The minimum financial size of the action to be eligible for funding is EUR 2 000 000.

Maximum number of legal entities forming part of the consortium

The number of legal entities forming part of the consortium shall not exceed 15 as per Article 34(3)(c) of the Regulation (EU) 2025/2643.