Indra reinforces its leadership in Europe after being selected to promote ten new defence R&D&I projects

Indra consolidates its position as a company that is co-leading the development of the next generation of European defence technologies, demonstrating its capacity to articulate large consortiums that work together in cutting-edge systems.  

The company has just been selected in the third call of the European Defence Fund to promote ten new R&D projects that will mobilise more than 500 million euros, which represents more than half of the total budget of this edition.  

The company is also leading two of them: the ECYSAP EYE cyberdefence project, a continuation of another European project it already led and which places the company at the forefront of the development of these capabilities on the continent; and the electronic systems for next-generation fighters NG-MIMA, which will create synergies with the FCAS, the programme promoted by Germany, Spain and France to develop the air combat system of the future. 

The rest of the projects in which it participates are related to drone capabilities (EUDAAS 2), anti-drone systems (E-CUAS), sensor networks (EISNET), artificial intelligence and cybersecurity (AIDA), space (EMISSARY), aircraft self-protection systems (CARMENTA PF), air defence (HYDIS) and armour (MARTE). 

Indra thus reinforces its position as one of the companies with the greatest participation in this type of technological initiatives. Since the launch in 2017 of the Preparatory Action and the EDIDP Defence Industrial Development Programme, a prelude to the current European Defence Fund, Indra has been selected in more than 60 R&D&I projects, which have led to developments that, in some cases, have already materialised in prototypes that are beginning to be shown to customers. 

Indra's Commercial Director of Defence and Security, Jorge García, highlighted that "the company has consolidated a strong position in the European defence market in a very short period of time. The Commission, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and our main industrial partners recognise Indra's capacity to articulate large consortia ─ formed by companies and research centres of different sizes, countries and areas of specialisation─ and to coordinate the development of the next generation systems that allied countries are demanding". 

Indra's executive adds that "Indra has secured a very relevant participation in projects in which key technological and industrial capabilities are developed to deliver next-generation systems to our European customers in the coming years, thereby ensuring an attractive growth business model for investors and industrial partners. This also ensures that Indra will continue to be one of the world's most advanced aerospace and defence companies for decades to come". 

All this, he adds, is aligned "with the company's strategic plan 'Leading the future' and our goal of becoming, in less than 10 years, the national coordinator that will lead the Spanish industrial ecosystem, playing a key role in strengthening European security and sovereignty". 

Indra's position in the international market is already enabling it to facilitate the incorporation of smaller companies and Spanish research centres into large technological programmes. At the same time, it is closing alliances to gain dimension and defend Spanish industrial interests.