VANTAGE

The war in Ukraine shows that unmanned aerial vehicles play a vital role on the modern battlefield. Technology quickly evolves, which makes adaptability, interoperability, and seamless integration of new sensors and navigation systems essential to sustaining effective defence operations. For Europe, developing such capabilities means strategically positioning itself at the forefront of defence development.

VANTAGE is a 36-month project, funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF). It will deliver a modular, long-range, vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone platform, capable of executing a broad range of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) missions, as well as kinetic strikes. The platform will be designed for maximum adaptability, allowing for the seamless integration of new sensors and navigation systems to ensure optimal performance in diverse environments, including GPS-denied scenarios.

The project will last from 1 October 2025 till 31 September 2028 and has a total budget of €10.88 million, with up to €10.09 million funded by the EDF. VANTAGE consortium consists of eight organisations from seven countries: LMT (Latvia), C&V Consulting (Belgium), Cavok UAS (France), Centro de Observación y Teledetección Espacial SAU (Spain), Defensphere OÜ (Estonia), INCAS (Romania), M3 Systems Belgium (Belgium), and UAV Navigation (Spain).

LMT coordinates the VANTAGE consortium and leads the technical development of the platform. “By bringing together our unique experience, expertise, and resources from across borders, we are building a future-ready capability that will strengthen Europe’s security, enhance operational flexibility, and set new standards for cooperation within the defence industry,” said Armands Meirāns, Head of R&D at LMT Defence.

The project is co-funded by the European Union under the European Defence Fund. Project No: 101224352.