Indra’s unmanned Pelicano helicopter. Credit: Indra.

The European consortium Ocean2020 has secured a €36m contract for a defence research and development (R&D) initiative funded by the European Union’s (EU) new European Defense Fund.

Ocean2020 forms part of the EU’s Preparatory Action on Defense Research (PADR) and is primarily focused on researching technologies that could strengthen situational awareness in extensive naval environments.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The consortium is set to carry out two live demonstrations of maritime surveillance and interdiction operations after completing an extensive simulation programme.

“Ocean2020 forms part of the EU’s Preparatory Action on Defense Research (PADR) and is primarily focused on researching technologies that could strengthen situational awareness in extensive naval environments.”

The first demonstration is slated to take place next year and will be coordinated by the Italian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea

Indra is one of the main partners of the Ocean2020 consortium and is expected to maintain the first-level responsibility of leading the work package, which will involve the design of the entire system’s architecture.

Indra’s unmanned Pelicano aircraft will be tested as part of the exercise to demonstrate its advanced surveillance capabilities, flexibility and ability to inter-operate with the upgraded platform systems of different nations.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The second test is slated to be carried out in 2020 in coordination with the Swedish Navy in the Baltic Sea in order to check the enhancements made following the first battery of exercises.

The project is backed and collaborated by Spain’s Directorate General of Armament and Equipment, as well as the Spanish Navy.

Ocean2020 is led by Leonardo and includes a total of 42 partners from 15 European member states, including large companies, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities and research centres.

It also receives input from various defence ministries in their roles as end-users, as well as Spanish entities GMV and the SME Seadrone.

Naval Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Naval Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Virtualitics has secured the Innovation and Business Expansion awards for its Integrated Readiness Optimization (IRO) suite. Discover how its explainable AI is transforming maintenance, sustainment and mission readiness, giving defence leaders faster, clearer, and more confident operational decisions.

Discover the Impact