Portugal wants to join a European project for a sixth-generation fighter jet… without spending any money.

Le Portugal veut rejoindre un projet européen d’avion de combat de 6e génération… sans bourse délier



by SraminiElMejorBeaver

32 comments

  1. >Which model will Portugal choose to replace the 24 F-16 AM/BMs in its air force [FAP – Força Aérea Portuguesa] ?

    >

    >Although it has lost its position as the favorite, the F-35A still has a chance. In any case, its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, is working on it, as evidenced by the memorandum of understanding it recently signed with representatives of the Portuguese aerospace industry.

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    >For his part, Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier recently said that he was “working hard” to try to convince Portugal to choose the Rafale. The same goes for Saab, which has confirmed that it is in talks with Lisbon about the JAS-39 Gripen E/F. It remains to be seen what the Eurofighter consortium [Leonardo, Airbus, BAE Systems] will do, as the EF-2000/Typhoon is also a possible contender.

    >

    >In any case, on July 18, in an [interview with CNN Portugal](https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/nuno-melo/defesa/nuno-melo-anuncia-que-portugal-vai-observar-sem-custos-como-se-faz-um-caca-de-6-geracao-e-faz-promessa-de-salarios-muito-altos/20250718/687acb0cd34e3f0baea0b102), Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo stated that “replacing the F-16s was not even on the agenda.” This may seem curious given that these aircraft will soon have exhausted their potential.

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    >On the other hand, and perhaps even more surprisingly, Mr. Melo expressed Portugal’s desire to participate in one of the two European 6th generation fighter aircraft programs as an observer. Which one ? He did not specify.

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    >As a reminder, France, Germany, and Spain are involved in the Future Air Combat System (SCAF). Belgium has already joined this project as an observer.

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    >As such, Brussels has allocated €60 million to “optimally position the Belgian industrial and technological base in terms of cooperation opportunities within the framework” of this project, the launch of phase 2 of which is still uncertain.

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    >The other project, the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), is led by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. Saudi Arabia may join, as it has expressed interest in doing so.

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    >However, Mr. Melo believes that observer status would allow Portugal to avoid spending a single euro.

  2. >former General Arnaut Moreira has expressed some reservations. “I don’t understand what is meant by observer in a process where no funding is involved. These terms need to be clarified by the ministry,” he told CNN Portugal. “No one will give us access to critical information without a [financial] contribution.

    The article asks and answers the question all on its own

  4. The article is already outdated. Belgium has requested full partnership status.

  6. Our entire history was built on our drive to find unfortunate people abroad to fund our elite’s lifestyle, so I’m not surprised and I would be disappointed and perhaps even angry if it were any different.

    Please respect our traditions.

  10. Its easy to imagine that the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program will dissolve into a French only project and a German, Spanish and maybe Belgian and Portugese project. Given the current disagreements between Dassault and Airbus Germany over the workshare agreement. With the French having previously pulled out of what became the Tornado and Eurofighter because Dassault didn’t want to work with anybody else. Also the way that the German Green party and others have routinely blocked the sales of aircraft and weapons to customers. Most of the Rafael sales would have been blocked, if Germany had a veto on them.

  11. It would be great if my country’s political class could spend at least a month without making me ashamed… or they could just all disappear, that would be great.

  13. TLDR: the Portuguese minister of defense wants to subscribe to the FCAS/GCAP newsletter

  15. Someone took out Portugal’s chip in the weekly draw for the enemy of the EU…

  18. And I would like washboard abs without going to the gym.

  19. “Maravillosa Jugada” if you know Spanish and chess.

  25. Spain and Portugal contribute nothing to European defence

  26. “Participate as an observer”

    Observing is not participating lmao.

    I participated in the Olympics then.

  27. You can observe at a flight show if we ever get planes out of these programs

  31. Maybe they want to observe it’s worth it’ll or a mess.

    Also if Portugal only want two pre order and not be part of the manufacturing it also make sense.

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