Overview
- The European Commission and the European Defence Agency signed an agreement that hands the Agency control of BraveTech EU’s second phase.
- The new phase carries €35 million to test and evaluate selected military technologies in conditions that mirror combat.
- Program leads will draw scenarios from the war in Ukraine to check whether tools work for actual battlefield needs.
- The first DefTech Forges selection events are set for June 2026 in Estonia and France to identify priority solutions.
- Initial field trials are planned for autumn 2026 with EU and Ukrainian military experts judging performance, giving startups and SMEs a faster path from lab to frontline use.