The VANTAGE project has officially started, with the ambition to develop a modular, interoperable, and scalable European tactical drone platform tailored to modern battlefield and security needs.
Led by Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT), the European Defence Fund project was officially launched in Riga with a kick-off meeting that gathered consortium partners to define the technical roadmap and establish operational priorities for the project’s R&D activities.
VANTAGE is officially supported by four EU Member States, Latvia, Romania, Belgium and Estonia, underlining strong governmental backing and recognition of the project’s potential positive impact on the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB).
“VANTAGE illustrates a central challenge of contemporary defence innovation: when systems are unmanned and human decisions and actions rely on interfaces and algorithms, ethical responsibility must be designed in, not assumed, » stated Jean-Marc Vesco, C&V Defence’s Chief Executive Officer. “At C&V Defence, our role is to embed accountability and meaningful human oversight as core engineering constraints from the earliest design choices, in full alignment with operational requirements. »
A modular and interoperable European drone platform
VANTAGE focuses on a versatile Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) integrating advanced C4ISR and kinetic capabilities, enabling the rapid integration of new sensors, effectors, and communications systems. Through its Interoperable Modular and Scalable Architecture (IMOSA), the platform is designed to remain adaptable to future technologies and evolving mission requirements.
Engineered for all European climates, the drone targets 10+ hours of endurance, a 200 km operational range, a 20 kg payload, and low-observable operations. This makes it suitable for a wide range of users, from EU Ministries of Defence and Special Operations Forces to armoured units, naval detachments, border authorities, and emergency services.
Operationally driven and aligned with Europe’s strategic priorities and values
VANTAGE directly draws on operational lessons from Ukraine, ensuring that real battlefield experience is embedded in the system’s development from the outset. The project also contributes to the Latvia-led Drone Coalition for Ukraine, supporting rapid testing, validation, and operational feedback for drone technologies. The Coalition has identified two key challenges: reconnaissance and precision strike against enemy targets in compliance with armed conflict laws and the EU ethics values, both of which are central to VANTAGE’s design.
Strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy in UAS
VANTAGE aims to deliver a credible European alternative to non-EU drone suppliers, strengthening interoperability, survivability, and autonomous cooperation between systems. It also contributes to the emergence of a future European standard for small tactical UAS.
A European Consortium
Latvijas Mobilais Telefons Sia (Coordinator) – LV
Cavok UAS – FR
Centro de Observacion y Teledeteccion Espacial SAU – ES
C&V Defence – BE
Defensphere Oü – EE
Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare Aerospatiala « Elie Carafoli »N Incas Bucuresti – RO
M3 Systems – BE
UAV Navigation S.L.U. – ES
Supporting companies
Sierra Tango – BE
A project selected by the European Defence Fund
The VANTAGE project was selected by the European Commission under the European Defence Fund (EDF) in 2024. The project has been allocated a total budget of €10.091.395,31 million by the EU.
The EDF is the European Commission’s instrument for supporting research and development actions in the defence sector. Its main objectives are to foster cooperation between companies, including SMEs, and Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) throughout the Union, to promote the development of defence capabilities through investment, and to help EU companies develop advanced and interoperable defence technologies and equipment.
Learn more about the European Defence Fund here.