European defence industry programme (EDIP)

The European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) is a €1.5 billion EU-wide initiative to strengthen and modernise Europe’s defence industry, ramp-up production capacity, and ensure cutting-edge technology, resilience, and steady supply of military equipment to the armed forces of the Member States.

As part of EDIP, the Ukraine support instrument or USI, with a dedicated budget of EUR 300 million, contributes to the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of the Ukrainian Defence Technological and Industrial Base (DTIB) with a view to increasing its defence industrial readiness, taking into account its possible future integration into the European DTIB, through cooperation between the Union and Ukraine, thereby enhancing mutual stability, security, peace, prosperity, resilience and sustainability. 

Key information

• Programme: European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) – Ukraine Support Instrument (USI) / Industrial Reinforcement Actions (IRA).
• Call: Missiles, Ammunition and Bombs.
• Total available funding: €180 million.
• Maximum EU contribution: €30 million per project.
• Deadline: 13 October 2026.
• Who can apply: Entities established in EU Member States and Ukraine can participate in USI-IRA calls.
• Funding intensity: Up to 100% of eligible costs, making the Ukraine-focused calls particularly attractive compared with the standard IRA calls.

What types of projects are targeted?

The call focuses on strengthening industrial capacity for:

• Air-defence missiles and ammunition, including counter-unmanned systems.
• Deep-strike capabilities, including long-range missiles.
• Rockets.
• Smart bombs.
• Loitering munitions

More broadly, the USI-IRA instrument is designed to increase Ukrainian defence production, reduce production lead times, strengthen cooperation between European and Ukrainian companies, and integrate Ukraine's defence industry more closely into the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).

Who is it interesting for?

This is particularly significant for defence manufacturers, technology companies and industrial SMEs working on ammunition, missiles, propulsion, counter-drone technologies and related manufacturing capabilities.

The call can support activities including production-line reinforcement, joint filling plants and production lines, scaling-up of Ukrainian systems, ready-to-use production lines, Manufacturing as a Service and conversion of heavy dual-use industry to respond to defence surges.