Council launches 6th wave of new PESCO projects
The Council adopted a decision to launch the sixth wave of projects under the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the EU’s key framework for defence capability development.
With 11 new collaborative projects, the total number of PESCO initiatives now amounts to 75. This signals participating member states’ continuous, collective and resolute commitment to strengthening the EU’s defence readiness.
In line with the strategic guidance provided by the European Council on 6 March 2025, the EU is stepping up its efforts to strengthen its military capabilities in the face of immediate and future challenges.
The new projects span across various domains such as land, air, maritime, strategic enablers and force multipliers, and training facilities, as well as cutting-edge technologies such as quantum systems and directed energy weapons.
This new wave includes the following projects:
- Joint European Electromagnetic Warfare Convergence Initiative (JEEWCI)
- Substitute for Lead in Infantry Ammunition (SLIA)
- Common Handheld Optronic Interface (CHOI)
- Infantry Navigation w/o GNSS (InfNav w/o GNSS)
- Directed Energy Systems (DES)
- Next Generation Dismounted Soldier System (NGDSS)
- Modular Seabed Vessel (MSV)
- Future (unmanned) Air-to-Air refuelling Capability
- Unmanned Air Transport of Injured Soldiers (UNATIS)
- Quantum Enablers for Strategic Advantage (QUEST)
- Medical Treatment Facility Role 2 Forward-Capability Development (MTF R2F-CD)
Several of these projects directly respond to capability priorities identified by EU leaders, reinforcing PESCO’s role in strengthening EU’s defence posture and deepening its strategic sovereignty.
Today’s decision demonstrates that PESCO continues to be a central instrument for addressing the EU’s capability gaps through cooperation. It mobilises participating member states to pool resources, coordinate investments, and improve their armed forces’ interoperability, while reinforcing the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).
Background
The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a key EU defence initiative. It provides a framework for defence cooperation among the 26 participating EU member states who have entered into more binding commitments between one another. It enhances operational readiness and interoperability, defence spending and investment, capability development, and the contribution of armed forces to the most demanding missions, while also fostering a common strategic culture.
With today's decision, the number of collaborative projects totals 75 and covers various areas such as: training facilities, land formation systems, maritime and air systems, cyber, and enabling joint multiple services and space.
The 26 member states participating in PESCO are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.