Project

ECOBALLIFE is a project funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF) under the 2021 EDF call on Materials and structures for enhanced protection in hostile environments. With a budget of €10M, the project aims to enhance the interoperability and integration of defence systems and capabilities across the EU, strengthen the competitiveness and innovation of the European defence industry, and contribute to the strategic autonomy and security of the EU and its citizens. During the 42-month run, the project involves 16 partners from EU countries to deliver several outputs and outcomes, such as reports, publications, guidelines and recommendations, tests, prototypes, and demonstrators. ECOBALLIFE showcases the potential and benefits of the EDF for the advancement of European defence and security. The project is coordinated by TECNALIA (Spain) and is managed by the European Defence Agency (EDA) under a Contribution Agreement with the European Commission.

ECOBALLIFE aims to achieve the following objectives: 1) Strengthening the European defence capabilities and the competitiveness of the European defence industry by identifying, creating, and improving knowledge, new materials and technologies. 2) Researching and identifying new material concepts and technologies to create proof-of-concept of new personal and military platform protection solutions that can protect against current and emerging threats. 3) Optimising existing solutions to assure reliability throughout their entire life and defining new solutions that increase the level of protection against current and emerging threats. Contributing to advancing European defence and security by providing cutting-edge knowledge and solutions for personal and military platform protection. 4) Optimising existing solutions to assure reliability throughout their entire life and define new solutions that increase the level of protection against current and new threats. 5) Contributing to advancing European defence and security by providing cutting-edge knowledge and solutions for protection.

ECOBALLIFE will develop novel ceramic-metal and polymer composites for enhanced protection against ballistic threats, and design and manufacture composite structures that meet the STANAG 4569 levels 3-4 standards, using cost-effective and environmentally friendly materials and technologies from EU sources. The project will also study and optimise novel protection concepts for STANAG 4569 levels 3-4, using simulation tools, advanced materials, manufacturing technologies, improved material layouts, and joining technologies. For higher-level threats (STANAG 4569 levels 5-6), the project will develop solutions using dynamic passive armours and pioneering manufacturing methods to bolster the resistance of ceramic / Metal Matrix Composites (MMC) armour modules.

ECOBALLIFE will have a significant impact on the European defence and security by developing new materials and technologies for personal and military platform protection. The project will create lighter, more durable, and recyclable protection solutions that can cope with current and emerging threats and enhance the performance and functionality of protection systems. The project will also improve the protection and survivability of soldiers and military platforms in hostile environments, reduce the weight and cost of protection systems, increase the lifetime and recyclability of protection materials, and foster the competitiveness and innovation of the European defence industry. ECOBALLIFE will advance European defence and security by offering state-of-the-art knowledge and solutions for personal and military platform protection.