Portuguese Air Force in no rush to scrap F-35As deals

The Portuguese Air Force is not abandoning its plans to purchase fifth-generation F-35A fighter jets.

This is reported by Defense Archives with reference to the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Air Force.

According to him, there are several reasons for this decision, including the recently released Força Aérea 5.3 Air Force Transformation Strategy, which directly points to the fifth-generation fighter jets as a strategic and operational necessity.

He also emphasized that the F-35 is the only aircraft on the market capable of delivering the required technological breakthrough.

According to the command, the Lockheed Martin fighter jet is characterized by exceptional survivability and communication capabilities that cannot be matched by European models such as the Eurofighter, Rafale or Gripen.

It is also noted that the European F-35 fleet is constantly expanding, with new production lines appearing, in particular in Italy, and the infrastructure for maintenance is being developed.

Earlier, on March 14, it became known that Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo said that the country excludes the purchase of F-35 fighters due to the unpredictability of US policy and the current geopolitical situation.

Melo emphasized that although the Portuguese Air Force’s F-16 fighters are nearing the end of their service life, it is necessary to evaluate options that guarantee greater predictability and operational security. He noted that European-made combat aircraft are being considered as an alternative to the F-35 purchase.

Recently, it has been reported that Canada and Portugal are considering the Swedish Gripen fighter jet as an alternative to the American F-35 for their air forces. This was announced by Saab CEO Micael Johansson.

According to him, the company is currently preparing relevant proposals for both countries, as the negotiations are progressing quite well. This could be the first step towards a future contract for the supply of Gripen fighter jets.

It is worth noting that the Portuguese Air Force currently has 28 modernized F-16AM/BM aircraft in service, updated under the MLU (Mid-Life Upgrade) program.

Earlier, in 2017, Portugal sold 12 F-16s to Romania, which faced difficulties in operating and maintaining combat aircraft in good condition. Subsequently, in 2019, Romania ordered five more such aircraft, which were delivered in 2021.