Portugal; Air Force mulls fighter procurement

Its new Air Force 5.3 plan calls for the replacement of its F-16s with 5th-generation aircraft, although the decision will come in the next decade

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The Portuguese Air Force’s new modernization plan includes the acquisition of fifth-generation fighter jets. The revelation, made by the head of the service, Gen. João Cartaxo Alves, last week, puts Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter on the Portuguese horizon. If this advanced acquisition comes to fruition in this plan, called Air Force 5.3, it would be the thirteenth European country to acquire this model in which Spain has also shown interest, but without specifying anything yet.

The future Portuguese fifth-generation aircraft will replace its current fleet of 27 F-16 AM/BMs still in service in the country from the 45 it received in the 1990s, according to the French-language portal Zone Militaire. It is foreseeable that there will be 24 aircraft, which would make up two squadrons. There is not expected to be any big news surrounding this project until the Portuguese military programming law is updated, which will happen in 2027.

The Portuguese Air Force’s schedule now also includes the acquisition of a medium-altitude, high-endurance drone (MALE) model, which will probably end up being the MQ-9 Sea Guardian, from the also American firm General Atomics, as suggested by an image included in the presentation of the Air Force 5.3 plan. And it also brings forward the planned purchase of light attack aircraft, which will probably end up being A-29N Super Tucano, from the Brazilian company Embraer, according to the aforementioned media in French. This same manufacturer could also provide JAS-39 Gripen E/F fighter jets, as a projection of the agreement it has with the Swedish firm Saab that has developed them. However, Portuguese plans point towards the F-35 option, because of that mentioned mention of fifth-generation aircraft.

 Portugal; Air Force mulls fighter procurement

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