DEFRA Thematic call Pulsed Directed Energy Effectors

On 21 August, a thematic call for proposals “Pulsed Directed Energy Effectors” will be launched in the frame of the Defence-related Research Action, DEFRA.

The call will focus on the delivery of technology brick demonstrations up to TRL 4 for directed-energy Counter-UAS technologies, explicitly targeting pulsed microwave and waveform-controlled laser approaches, as a first step toward future proof-of-concept and technology-demonstrator activities.

You can already register for the online information session that will taken place on 31 August 2026 (13h30 – 15h00).

Themes & budget

The call Pulsed Directed Energy Effectors covers the following themes, with their indicative budget:

DEFRA Pulsed Directed Energy Effectors	Indicative budget (in M€)
Theme 1 - Pulsed Microwave Technology Bricks	2.0
Theme 2 - Pulsed Laser Technology Bricks	3.0
TOTAL	5.0

For both themes, projects will have a duration of 12 to 18 months.

Indicative calendar

Activity	Deadline
Launch of the call	21 August 2026
Information session (in Dutch or French)	31 August 2026 (13h30 – 15h00)
Deadline Pre-proposals	11 September 2026 (14h00)
Communication of evaluation result pre-proposals	25 September 2026
Deadline Full proposals	16 October 2026 (14h00)
Ethical evaluation	Between 16 and 20 October 2026
Panel evaluation	26 & 27 October 2026
Selection proposal formulated by the scientific committee of the RHID	5 November 2026
Final selection of proposals by the board of directors of the RHID and allocation of projects	20 November 2026
Communication of results to applicants	23 November 2026
Signature of contracts	December 2026

Documents

Call information

Information document, including submission and evaluation guidelines and budget rules : general information on the programme and the call, overview proposal content and corresponding evaluation criteria for the applicants and the evaluators
Evaluators eligibility: eligibility criteria for potential remote evaluators
Evaluation matrix for pre-proposals: overview of the evaluation ratings for the pre-proposals
Evaluation matrix for full proposals overview of the evaluation ratings for the full proposals
Platform Submission guidelines: information for the applicants on the use of the submission platform
Annexe II – general conditions applicable to the 2026 contracts
FAQ

Template for the Pre-proposal:

Pre-proposal template (mandatory)
Company honourability vulnerability
Veiligheidsverificatie - Toestemming
Vérification de sécurité - Consentement

Templates for the full proposal:

Full proposal template (mandatory)
Data Management plan (mandatory)
Research Ethics self-assessment (mandatory)
Gantt chart (mandatory)
Budget file (mandatory)
Cash or in-kind commitment letter
Visual/Graphical abstract

Submission

The pre-proposals as well as the full proposals must be electronically created, elaborated and submitted via the online submission platform.
The templates for the pre-proposal and the full proposal will be made available on the website. However, after the evaluation of the pre-proposals, for each theme a maximum of three pre-proposals will be invited to submit a full proposal.

A new submission platform is being developed. More information will follow soon.

Deadlines

Deadline Pre-proposals: 11 September 2026 (14h00)
Deadline Full proposals: 16 October 2026 (14h00)