As Portugal reconsiders the plans to acquire the F-35, Airbus is now making ready to supply the Eurofighter Hurricane as alternative for the ageing F-16 fleet.
Airbus Defence and House introduced on Oct. 27, 2025, that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Portuguese Cluster for Aeronautics, House 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 accumulate the F-35 Lightning II.
Nevertheless, the nation nonetheless wants to exchange its ageing F-16 Preventing Falcon fleet. Based on 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 House and the Portuguese Cluster for Aeronautics, House 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
Based on Airbus, within the body of this settlement, a base has been set for the launch a collection of research with a view to create a precious industrial proposition to exchange the present Portuguese F-16 fleet with the Eurofighter Hurricane. Particulars are nonetheless unknown, nevertheless 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 revealed on Mar. 13, 2025, Portuguese Protection Minister Nuno Melo dismissed the potential for 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 determination.
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 foremost issues, the Minister talked about the predictability of the allies and “limitations to make use of, upkeep, parts, and every part that has to do with making certain that plane shall be operational and utilized in all sorts of eventualities.”
Due to this, the Minister additional mentioned “There are a number of choices that have to be thought-about, notably within the context of European manufacturing and likewise taking into consideration the return that these choices could have on the Portuguese economic system.” This hinted at a doable analysis of a alternative manufactured in Europe.
Eurofighter Proposal
The MoU between Airbus and AED Cluster Portugal is paving the way in which for pitching the Eurofighter Hurricane to the Portuguese Air Power. 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 House.
The Eurofighter Hurricane is the biggest European single protection program, with 780 plane ordered by ten nations and 600 already in service. Turkey turned the newest shopper, signing a deal to accumulate 20 plane on Oct. 27, whereas lots of the associate nations are buying new batches of the jet.
The Typhoons pitched to Portugal would almost certainly are available the identical configuration that Italy, Germany and Spain are presently buying. This consists of the brand new European Frequent Radar System (ECRS) Mk 1 AESA (Energetic Electronically Scanned Array) radar and the Section 4 Enhancement (P4E) configuration.
P4E accommodates quite a lot of new developments, together with an automatic sensor administration functionality for all Hurricane 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 bundle can be mentioned to incorporate an improved cockpit interface and enhanced Radio Frequency Interoperability (RFIO), which can 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 revealed on Apr. 12, 2024, the Portuguese Air Power Chief of Employees, Normal João Cartaxo Alves, confirmed the plan of the Força Aérea Portuguesa to exchange 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 maintaining consistent 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 Power 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 Power additionally added that the transition to a brand new fighter plane would span roughly twenty 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 Power Chief of Employees publicly acknowledged that Lockheed Martin’s Fifth-generation fighter was an acceptable alternative for the nation’s ageing F-16 fleet. Nevertheless, 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 presently, there is no such thing as a course of for buying plane to exchange the F-16,” mentioned Protection Ministry spokesperson Helena Carreiras in a press release 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 potential for 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.
