Strengthening Europe’s Maritime Security: RFI for Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection (CSIP)

PURPOSE OF THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has launched a Request for Information (RFI) under the PESCO Project “Critical Seabed Infrastructure Protection (CSIP)” — an initiative aimed at enhancing Europe’s ability to safeguard critical underwater and seabed infrastructure.

In an evolving security environment, ensuring the resilience of subsea assets is vital. The CSIP project seeks to build an interoperable, immersive, and AI-enabled capability for Underwater Situational Awareness (UWSA) — integrating advanced sensors, autonomous systems, and resilient C2 networks.

This RFI invites EU-based defence and dual-use technology companies to share insights and available solutions (TRL 7 or higher) that can contribute to the initial operational capability of CSIP’s first phase.

KEY OBJECTIVES

Map current technologies supporting underwater surveillance, detection, and response.
Engage with EU industry to inform future operational and procurement decisions.
Prepare for the first Operational Experimentation (OPEX) in La Spezia, Italy (November 2026).