Introduction
The CapTech Missiles & Munitions monitors technological developments and coordinates multinational research projects on ammunition-related technologies, in support of Europe’s future defence capabilities.
The CapTech covers energetic materials, propulsion, warheads, lethality, platform protection, explosives detection and weapons. It also covers modelling and simulation of effects, education, lifetime management, battlespace management aspects related to effects delivery, signatures (detectable byproducts and emissions), vulnerability, and countermeasures relevant to missiles and munitions.
The cooperation between Member States focuses on understanding, evaluating, and analysing energetic materials (propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics), effectors for military applications and explosive detection.
The research covers areas such as predictive modelling and simulation, detonation and blast effects, ballistic design, and the integration of these technologies into weapon systems.
The CapTech’s activities also address capability shortfalls such as technologies for Directed Energy Weapons (DEW), AI for M&M, next-generation precision strike systems, extended-range weapons, and enhanced firepower. Other priorities include defence against emerging threats and protection of personnel and civilians.
Technology Building Blocks
Technology Building Blocks (TBBs) are the specific technological focus areas that guide the CapTech’s activities and research priorities. Activities of the CapTech Missiles and Munitions are structured through thirteen TBBs:
- Munition life management - integrated approach, including embedded sensors, signal transfer, signal analysis, and lifecycle modelling/simulation, to enable improved assessment and cost-effective life extension.
- Insensitive munitions - new energetic materials and packaging solutions to prevent unexpected explosion or detonation of munitions when subjected to accidental threats such as external fire, fragment impact, or enemy fire.
- Fuzing and ignition systems - reliable ignition and safety-and-arming technologies to initiate warheads and propellants at the desired time and place while minimising collateral damage.
- Precision-guided munition and missiles - affordable guidance and control sub-systems and state-of-the-art sensors, to achieve high target hit probability at extended range while minimising collateral damage.
- High-performance gun-launch - propellants and ballistic technologies that deliver higher muzzle velocity and range, lower sensitivity, and enhanced performance for gun-launched projectiles.
- Improved tools and methods for qualification and safety - advanced testing and simulation tools to reduce cost and improve testing possibilities.
- ED detection and defeat technologies - stand-off sensors capable of detecting and identifying hidden or buried explosives (traces and bulk) in vehicles, containers, and behind walls or soil, alongside subsequent neutralisation techniques to minimise false alarms.
- High-performance energetic materials - materials that simultaneously achieve high performance, low sensitivity, and compliance with environmental regulations.
- Improved warhead and penetrator design - higher performance with less mechanically sensitive energetics, improved penetrator and fragmentation design, and novel, modular warhead architectures including reactive materials and advanced perforation technologies.
- Technologies for decoying and obscuring - pyrotechnic solutions capable of obscuring and decoying state-of-the-art target acquisition sensors (visual, thermal, IR, RF) to protect military platforms from detection and engagement, addressing the technology lag behind advancing sensor technologies.
- New production techniques for munition components - applying innovative manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing to enable flexible, affordable small-series production and reliable mass production of munition components.
- Education and training for ammunition technologies - European education and training within ammunition technologies to build and sustain a skilled workforce.
- High Performance missile propulsion - including long-range, high-velocity, and low-signature solid and liquid propellants, alongside new propulsion concepts that reduce susceptibility and vulnerability and incorporate active and passive protection measures.
- Firing unit - launch, fire control, and interface technologies that constitute the firing unit component of missile and munition weapon systems, ensuring reliable, safe, and operationally effective initiation and release of munitions from their launch platforms.
Together, these Technology Building Blocks cover the most essential R&D areas related to the development of missiles and munitions
Link to EDA’s capability domains
The CapTech Missiles and Munitions generally works at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 2 to 6, with some projects reaching the demonstrator level. To ensure research and technology efforts effectively support defence needs, the CapTech’s activities are aligned with EDA’s Capability Development Plan (CDP), addressing security and defence challenges in the short, medium and long term.
The CapTech Missiles and Munitions contributes primarily to:
- Land: Ground combat capabilities, land-based precision engagement and future soldier systems
- Air: Air combat platforms and weapons, integrated air and missile defence.
- Maritime: Naval combat & maritime interdiction, underwater & seabed warfare
Join the CapTech
The CapTech Missiles & Munitions usually meets three times per year. In addition, the CapTech organises workshops dedicated to specific topics to investigate areas and promote cooperation. Relevant information is shared via EDA’s online collaborative workspace.
Besides the research activities foreseen in the roadmaps, any CapTech member can propose ideas for new activities (projects, workshops, etc.) at any meeting. Members then determine the potential to launch a cooperative project.
You can submit a request for membership to the CapTech moderator. The applications are subject to approval by the respective CapTech National Coordinator (CNC). The approval of the CNC is necessary for becoming a Governmental Expert (CGE) or non-Governmental Expert (CnGE), and for your participation in a CapTech event.
To become a member of the CapTech (CGE or CnGE), please contact us at:
[email protected]