As Portugal reconsiders the plans to acquire the F-35, Airbus is now getting ready to supply the Eurofighter Storm as alternative for the growing older F-16 fleet.
Airbus Defence and Area introduced on Oct. 27, 2025, that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Portuguese Cluster for Aeronautics, Area and Defence Industries (AED Cluster Portugal) to establish cooperation alternatives forward of the upcoming fighter fleet alternative within the nation. Earlier this 12 months, Portugal mentioned it was reconsidering its plans to amass the F-35 Lightning II.
Nonetheless, the nation nonetheless wants to switch its growing older F-16 Combating Falcon fleet. In response to FlightGlobal’s World Air Forces 2025, Portugal has a complete of 25 F-16s in service, of which 4 are twin-seaters, with at the very least 30 years of service.
Airbus Defence and Area and the Portuguese Cluster for Aeronautics, Area and Defence Industries (AED Cluster Portugal) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish cooperation alternatives forward of the upcoming fighter fleet alternative within the nation. 🇵🇹
In… pic.twitter.com/4yT0lAuaV9
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) October 27, 2025
In response to Airbus, within the body of this settlement, a base has been set for the launch a collection of research as a way to create a precious industrial proposition to switch the present Portuguese F-16 fleet with the Eurofighter Storm. Particulars are nonetheless unknown, nonetheless Portugal had already €5.5 billion allotted for the alternative, with the unique plan being for 27 F-35s.
F-35 Dilemma
In an interview with Portuguese media outlet Público printed on Mar. 13, 2025, Portuguese Protection Minister Nuno Melo dismissed the opportunity of ordering the fifth-generation fighter, aligning with different European nations reconsidering their protection procurement methods. The Minister pointed immediately on the uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration as a key issue within the resolution.
The feedback adopted Trump’s controversial remarks about NATO after taking workplace, questioning member contributions and even suggesting the U.S. won’t uphold its protection commitments, which have raised alarms throughout Europe. Among the many primary considerations, the Minister talked about the predictability of the allies and “limitations to make use of, upkeep, parts, and the whole lot that has to do with making certain that plane will probably be operational and utilized in all kinds of situations.”
Due to this, the Minister additional mentioned “There are a number of choices that have to be thought of, significantly within the context of European manufacturing and in addition bearing in mind the return that these choices might have on the Portuguese economic system.” This hinted at a potential analysis of a alternative manufactured in Europe.
Eurofighter Proposal
The MoU between Airbus and AED Cluster Portugal is paving the best way for pitching the Eurofighter Storm to the Portuguese Air Pressure. Airbus has a very good cooperation with Portugal, and holds a 46% stake within the possession of the Eurofigher consortium, representing each Germany and Spain.
“In a time the place European sovereignty and industrial autonomy is on the forefront of our technique, Airbus strongly believes that the Eurofighter is the most suitable choice for this alternative,” says Jose Luis de Miguel Cortes, Head of Europe at Airbus Defence and Area.
The Eurofighter Storm is the most important European single protection program, with 780 plane ordered by ten nations and 600 already in service. Turkey turned the most recent shopper, signing a deal to amass 20 plane on Oct. 27, whereas lots of the associate nations are buying new batches of the jet.
The Typhoons pitched to Portugal would most definitely are available in the identical configuration that Italy, Germany and Spain are at present buying. This contains the brand new European Frequent Radar System (ECRS) Mk 1 AESA (Lively Electronically Scanned Array) radar and the Part 4 Enhancement (P4E) configuration.
P4E accommodates plenty of new developments, together with an automatic sensor administration functionality for all Storm radars, permitting to use the capabilities of the brand new AESA radar to finish a number of simultaneous duties, whereas decreasing the pilot workload. The package deal can be mentioned to incorporate an improved cockpit interface and enhanced Radio Frequency Interoperability (RFIO), which is able to enhance survivability and lethality, in addition to DASS (Defensive Aids Sub-System) upgrades.
The Authentic Plan
In one other lengthy interview with Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias printed on Apr. 12, 2024, the Portuguese Air Pressure Chief of Employees, Normal João Cartaxo Alves, confirmed the plan of the Força Aérea Portuguesa to switch the F-16 with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II plane, saying the transition had already began.
Gen. Cartaxo Alves said that the choice was aimed toward preserving in keeping with the vast majority of European allies who’ve already begun transitioning to the F-35, as a part of their strategic efforts. Noteworthy, the F-35 procurement by Portugal has at all times been considerably controversial.
In April 2024, Air Pressure Chief of Employees Normal João Cartaxo Alves confirmed the service was in a “transition” section towards the stealth fighter, mirroring choices made by a number of NATO companions. The Chief of the Portuguese Air Pressure additionally added that the transition to a brand new fighter plane would span roughly 20 years, with an estimated expenditure of 5.5 billion Euro allotted for this program.
The statements of Cartaxo Alves had made the headlines in 2023 too: at a navy airlift and refueling convention in Lisbon, the Portuguese Air Pressure Chief of Employees publicly acknowledged that Lockheed Martin’s Fifth-generation fighter was an appropriate alternative for the nation’s growing older F-16 fleet. Nonetheless, the passion was rapidly tempered by the federal government.
The Portuguese Ministry of Protection wasted no time in clarifying that no formal procurement course of was in place. “It is a imaginative and prescient for the long run, so at present, there is no such thing as a course of for buying plane to switch the F-16,” mentioned Protection Ministry spokesperson Helena Carreiras in an announcement to Breaking Protection.
Quick ahead to March 2025, with the F-35 seemingly off the desk, Portugal’s subsequent transfer stays unclear. When requested about the opportunity of buying the Dassault Rafale, Melo declined to remark.
In the meantime, in June 2025, Lockheed Martin and the AED Cluster Portugal signed an MoU to establish potential Portuguese corporations for future industrial actions. “This partnership goals to combine native companies into the manufacturing, analysis, growth, upkeep, and coaching for the world’s most superior stealth fighter,” mentioned the U.S. Embassy Portugal on the time.
