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European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) programme and contracts

European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) is a defence programme involving Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia and Denmark and 15 more nations, currently in the joint procurement phase. The lead primes are Diehl Defence, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industries. Below are its milestones and sources, with the newest defence notices of its lead nation.

European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) programme and contracts
21
nations
1
milestone
5
lead primes

Figures counted from our database.

Milestones

  1. 2022

    Initiative launched by Germany with European partners

Budget

Funding sits in the national defence budgets of the participating nations. Award values shown here come only from published contract notices.

Defence notices from Germany to follow alongside European Sky Shield Initiative

No public award or notice names European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) in our data yet, so the milestones and sources above are the record. These are the newest open notices of Germany's defence buyers, where its supply chain work appears first.

Open defence notices of the lead nation
NoticeBuyerTypeDeadlineValue

S0335 Bewachung FBG-Tanklager Neuburg

CPV 79713000

TED 21 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Bundeswehr-Dienstleistungszentrum Ingolstadt DE Tender 43 d left, closes 3 Dec 2026 n/a

6003110460-BAAINBw E2.5F

CPV 35400000

TED 20 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technolo... DE Tender 20 d left, closes 10 Nov 2026 n/a

Feldmütze und Krempenhut, Rahmenvereinbarungen

CPV 18443320

TED 20 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Bw Bekleidungsmanagement GmbH DE Tender 34 d left, closes 24 Nov 2026 n/a

Fortführung ArcSight ExtranetBw

CPV 72000000

TED 20 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technolo... DE Tender 40 d left, closes 30 Nov 2026 n/a

Flugzieldarstellung Learjet

CPV 60440000

TED 20 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technolo... DE Tender 36 d left, closes 26 Nov 2026 n/a

Schneetarn Jacke und Hose Gebirgsjäger, Rahmenvereinbarungen

CPV 35800000

TED 19 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Bw Bekleidungsmanagement GmbH DE Tender 27 d left, closes 17 Nov 2026 n/a

BG_1708_EU/26 - Werksinstandsetzung von Kamera und Ventil Baugruppen des Systems GTK Boxer

CPV 50600000

TED 19 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		HIL Heeresinstandsetzungslogistik GmbH DE Tender 27 d left, closes 17 Nov 2026 n/a

Marine-Hafenschlepper und flexibler Fähigkeitsträger (Navy-Tug flex) - TNW

CPV 34500000

TED 16 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technolo... DE Tender 28 d left, closes 18 Nov 2026 n/a

Kauf: Abwehr von weitreichenden One-Way-Effectors mit Hubschraubern (VA965)

CPV 35700000

TED 16 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Planungsamt der Bundeswehr Referat I 1 (4) DE Tender 7 d left, closes 28 Oct 2026 n/a

RV Absicherung_Bewachung Lgschft Bad Sülze_Warbelow

CPV 79713000

TED 16 Oct 2026 (opens the source) 		Bundeswehr-Dienstleistungszentrum Rostock DE Tender 36 d left, closes 26 Nov 2026 n/a

All Germany defence notices and awards

Questions about European Sky Shield Initiative

Who are the lead contractors on European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI)?
Diehl Defence, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Israel Aerospace Industries, Boeing. Each prime buys from a wide supply chain of tier 2 and tier 3 suppliers.
Which countries take part?
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, United Kingdom, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece and Turkey.
What phase is the programme in?
Joint procurement. Phase determines what is bought next: development work, production lots, upgrades or support.
How can a supplier get work on European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI)?
Mostly through the lead primes and their tier 1 suppliers, and through national industrial participation where a country buys the system. Follow the linked notices and awards here and the defence prime contractors page.
How is the budget reported?
Funding sits in the national defence budgets of the participating nations. Award values shown here come only from published contract notices.
F-35 Lightning II Production and sustainment
Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) Development
Future Combat Air System (FCAS / SCAF) Demonstrator phase
Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) System architecture definition

European Sky Shield Initiative Programme, Primes and Contracts

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