European Union to launch new maritime projects under the PESCO.

According to a press release published by the European Council on November 17, 2021, the Council adopted a decision updating the list of projects to be undertaken under the EU permanent structured cooperation (PESCO). As a result, 14 new projects will be added to the list of the 46 existing ones that have been developed under PESCO since December 2017.
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Artist rendering of European Patrol Corvette under PESCO projects (Picture source: Donanimhaber)

The Medium size Semi-Autonomous Surface Vehicle (M-SASV) will develop a vehicle with multiple mission modules and provide increased operational flexibility and crew protection that can be used for littoral operations as well as naval tasks groups.

The project will develop a medium-size semi-autonomous surface vehicle with multiple mission modules (e.g., ISR, ASW, ASuW, NMW/NMCM). Manned when must, unmanned when possible, the platform will provide increased operational flexibility and crew protection. While the design focuses on littoral operations, the platform will be also deployable as part of naval task groups.

The list of new projects also includes "Essential Elements of European Escort" (4E) for the maritime area.

The Council has also adopted two Recommendations setting out more precise objectives for the second initial phase of PESCO 2021-2025 and on the progress made by the project members towards fulfilling their commitments.

The 25 member states participating in PESCO are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

The 4E Project aims to develop the most important systems of any surface combatant that may be built-in Europe from 2035 to 2045 covering five areas: combat system, communication and information system, navigation system, platform management system, and Integration of System of Systems.