Portugal to Add Third Submarine and Launch Space Base by 2027
LISBON – Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo announced on Tuesday that the government will move to expand the nation’s naval capabilities by acquiring a third submarine. The investment will be formalized in the upcoming Military Programming Law (LPM), the nation’s 12-year framework for defense spending.
Speaking before the Assembly of the Republic during a 2027 State Budget hearing, Melo defended the acquisition as a strategic necessity. “The submarine is a weapon with a deterrent capability that few others possess at sea,” Melo told lawmakers, echoing a long-standing request from Admiral Nobre de Sousa, the Navy’s Chief of Staff.
The Race to Replace F-16s
While the naval expansion was confirmed, the future of Portugal’s air superiority remains under wraps. Lawmakers pressed Melo for a timeline on the replacement of the Air Force’s aging F-16 fighter jets. The Minister maintained that while major manufacturers—including Lockheed Martin (F-35), Saab (Gripen E), Airbus (Eurofighter), and Dassault (Rafale)—are vying for the contract, no formal process will begin until the LPM is approved, likely by year’s end.
Melo emphasized that the final decision will be a “technical and political judgment” informed by comparative studies from the Air Force. The discussion comes amid warnings from the Socialist Party regarding hardware compatibility; specifically, whether the Air Force’s new KC-390 refueling tankers are compatible with the American-made F-35A.
Portugal’s Space Ambitions Take Flight
The hearing also highlighted Portugal’s rapid ascent into the space industry. Melo announced that a ceremony will be held on December 2 in Alverca to mark the delivery of the country’s first two domestically produced satellites.
Ambitions extend beyond manufacturing. The government expects to finalize land acquisitions for a space base in Santa Maria, Azores, by the end of 2024. The Minister outlined a roadmap for 11 satellite launches in 2027, with the capacity to scale up to 40 launches by 2028.
Modernizing the Arsenal and Aerial Firefighting
Addressing concerns over the Alfeite Arsenal, Melo assured the Communist Party that no jobs would be lost under a new management partnership between idD Portugal Defence and Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri. He stated the goal is to transform the shipyards into a “reference infrastructure” within the European Union.
The 2027 defense strategy also includes:
- Firefighting: Eight Air Force assets will be deployed for firefighting missions in 2027, following the military’s successful integration into disaster response this year.
- International Cooperation: Funding for Defense Domain Cooperation with Lusophone nations, including Angola and Mozambique, will see a 15% budget increase.
- Real Estate: Melo dismissed claims of abandoned military buildings, clarifying that any derelict properties had already been transferred to municipal or housing authorities.
In a lighthearted moment during the five-hour hearing, Melo addressed recent internal shifts in his party, the CDS-PP. “In the CDS-PP, we are like the Armed Forces: we have more entries than exits,” he remarked. “As for those who leave, I only wish for them to be happy.”
Image: Pexels – Regan Dsouza
