Laser weapons and the latest tanks: Europe intends to spend billions on the weapon of the future

Among the promising projects, in particular, the creation of the main Marte combat tank and the development of laser weapons with a capacity of 100 kilowatts Talos-TWO. The European Defense Fund (EDF) intends to invest $ 1. 3 billion in 50 multinational research military projects. The funds will be put into the development of new major combat tanks, air liners, corvettes, counter-unmanned aerial vehicles (C-UAS) and laser weapons. This was reported by Breaking Defense.

Financing of programs is based on the results of the 20123 applications and increases the total expenditures of the EU for defense research and development of more than $ 3. 25 billion since May 2021.

The European Commission emphasized that the selected projects are aimed at maintaining technological advantage in a wide range of defense opportunities, including cyber defense, ground, air and maritime combat actions, protection of cosmic agents, as well as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense. Of the 236 applications, 54 proposals were selected. The European System for Outsized Cargo Airlift (ESOCA) has been allocated just less than $ 21. 7 million for 18 months.

This project, led by the German company Airbus, explores the capabilities of new strategic air transportation with the participation of the French manufacturer of Safran engines and the Italian manufacturer of Leonardo aircraft. Two large terrestrial projects, Main Armored Tank of Europe (Marte) and Technologies for Existation and Future Mbts (FMBTECH), will attract more than 70 industrial and research organizations to develop a new European main combat tank.

The Marte project, designed for two years, will receive almost $ 21. 7 million from the EU. The European C-UAS project will receive up to $ 47 million to strengthen the potential of air and missing defense. This project, headed by Leonardo, will be implemented within 42 months, it will focus on the development of technologies for the defeat of drones. As part of the second stage of the European Patrol Corvette 2 (EPC2), two prototypes of ships will be created within four years.

The project is aimed at integrating innovative solutions to improve the efficiency of ships and will be funded by the EU worth $ 196 million. The leader of the project is Naviris, a joint venture of the French Naval Group and Italian Fincantieri. The Tactical Advanced Laser Optical Systems (Talos-TWO) project is aimed at developing a 100 kilowatt laser weapon by 2030. The project, headed by the French company Cilas, will receive $ 32 million for three years.