Portugal strengthens US F-35 fighter jet investment despite ongoing purchase doubts
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On June 5, 2025, Lockheed Martin has taken a strategic step to strengthen its presence in Portugal by signing a memorandum of understanding with AED Cluster Portugal, an association representing over 140 aerospace, space, and defense entities, to explore local industry participation in the F-35 program should Lisbon revisit its current procurement stance.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Portugal initially planned to acquire 27 F‑35A Lightning II fighter jets, budgeted at approximately €5.5 billion including training, support and infrastructure, as part of its “Air Force 5.3” modernization program. (Picture source: F-35 JPO)
The agreement aims to position AED as the liaison identifying local companies capable of contributing to F-35 production, R&D, maintenance, and training, signaling a strategic move by Lockheed to seed future national supply-chain integration. The U.S. Embassy in Lisbon highlighted the MoU’s potential to open “incredible opportunities for Portuguese companies to contribute to high-tech programs and strengthen the national aerospace and defense ecosystem.”
This development represents an evolution from previous deliberations over Portugal’s fifth-generation fighter acquisition strategy. Portugal currently operates 28 F-16 aircraft, 24 F-16AM and 4 F-16BM models, acquired during the 1990s and modernized under the Mid-Life Update (MLU) program. While the F-16 has proven to be a reliable fourth-generation multirole fighter, its technology is now considered insufficient for future high-threat environments, particularly in contested airspace requiring stealth, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare dominance.
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft developed to perform a wide range of missions with stealth and precision. It integrates advanced stealth shaping and coatings with next-generation sensors, including the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), and Distributed Aperture System (DAS), giving pilots unparalleled situational awareness. The jet supports secure communications and data sharing in real time, enhancing joint operations across domains. Its propulsion is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, enabling supersonic speeds and short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variants. The F-35’s versatility makes it suitable for air superiority, strike, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), and electronic warfare missions under the most demanding combat conditions.
The transition from the F-16 to the F-35 reflects Portugal’s strategic intent to align its capabilities with NATO’s evolving operational framework. While the F-16 remains effective in conventional operations, its survivability and effectiveness are limited against modern integrated air defense systems and peer adversaries. The F-35, on the other hand, is designed for full-spectrum dominance in multi-domain operations, offering superior interoperability with allied forces and enabling Portugal to fulfill its roles in air policing, maritime surveillance, and quick reaction alert missions more effectively.
The new industrial partnership with AED Cluster Portugal thus ensures that, even amid political hesitations, the technological and economic foundations are being laid for potential future acquisition. Whether Portugal will formalize its F-35 procurement remains contingent on internal political dynamics and transatlantic relations, but Lockheed Martin’s maneuver secures a foothold for future integration and collaboration.
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On June 5, 2025, Lockheed Martin has taken a strategic step to strengthen its presence in Portugal by signing a memorandum of understanding with AED Cluster Portugal, an association representing over 140 aerospace, space, and defense entities, to explore local industry participation in the F-35 program should Lisbon revisit its current procurement stance.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Portugal initially planned to acquire 27 F‑35A Lightning II fighter jets, budgeted at approximately €5.5 billion including training, support and infrastructure, as part of its “Air Force 5.3” modernization program. (Picture source: F-35 JPO)
The agreement aims to position AED as the liaison identifying local companies capable of contributing to F-35 production, R&D, maintenance, and training, signaling a strategic move by Lockheed to seed future national supply-chain integration. The U.S. Embassy in Lisbon highlighted the MoU’s potential to open “incredible opportunities for Portuguese companies to contribute to high-tech programs and strengthen the national aerospace and defense ecosystem.”
This development represents an evolution from previous deliberations over Portugal’s fifth-generation fighter acquisition strategy. Portugal currently operates 28 F-16 aircraft, 24 F-16AM and 4 F-16BM models, acquired during the 1990s and modernized under the Mid-Life Update (MLU) program. While the F-16 has proven to be a reliable fourth-generation multirole fighter, its technology is now considered insufficient for future high-threat environments, particularly in contested airspace requiring stealth, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare dominance.
The F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation multirole combat aircraft developed to perform a wide range of missions with stealth and precision. It integrates advanced stealth shaping and coatings with next-generation sensors, including the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS), and Distributed Aperture System (DAS), giving pilots unparalleled situational awareness. The jet supports secure communications and data sharing in real time, enhancing joint operations across domains. Its propulsion is powered by the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, enabling supersonic speeds and short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variants. The F-35’s versatility makes it suitable for air superiority, strike, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), and electronic warfare missions under the most demanding combat conditions.
The transition from the F-16 to the F-35 reflects Portugal’s strategic intent to align its capabilities with NATO’s evolving operational framework. While the F-16 remains effective in conventional operations, its survivability and effectiveness are limited against modern integrated air defense systems and peer adversaries. The F-35, on the other hand, is designed for full-spectrum dominance in multi-domain operations, offering superior interoperability with allied forces and enabling Portugal to fulfill its roles in air policing, maritime surveillance, and quick reaction alert missions more effectively.
The new industrial partnership with AED Cluster Portugal thus ensures that, even amid political hesitations, the technological and economic foundations are being laid for potential future acquisition. Whether Portugal will formalize its F-35 procurement remains contingent on internal political dynamics and transatlantic relations, but Lockheed Martin’s maneuver secures a foothold for future integration and collaboration.
