Capability Development planning is the MS’s process of establishing the required military forces and equipment to meet its objectives or to counteract threats.
Since 2008, the European Defence Agency (EDA) has been producing a Capability Development Plan (CDP) to address long-term security and defence challenges. It looks at future security scenarios and makes recommendations about the capabilities European militaries will need to react to a variety of potential developments.
EDA works on priority setting in the areas of capability development (Capability Development Plan), defence research (Overarching Strategic Research Agenda) as well as skills, technologies, manufacturing capabilities (Key Strategic Activities).
Last CDP revision took place in 2023, leading to the definition of 22 EU Capability Development Priorities, agreed by EU Ministries of Defence, agreed by EU Ministries of Defence (EDA News).
Further development process step is currently ongoing: the elaboration of the Priority Implementation Roadmaps – in coordination with MS’ Capability Planners and Domain Experts - to be agreed by EU MS at Capability Directors level.
Among others (e.g.: Collaborative Projects, Joint Training, etc.), the PIR’s include the definition of Concept of Operations (CONOPS): a document which describes a proposed system concept and how that concept would be operated in an intended environment.