Portugal increases military hospital surgical module budget to 20 million euros

The Portuguese government has updated the projected cost for the construction of the Armed Forces Hospital surgical module, increasing the investment from approximately 14.71 million to 20.27 million euros. The project, which is part of the expansion plan for the Lisbon Pole and Military Health Campus, is now expected to be completed by 2029, a delay from the original 2025–2027 timeline. The expansion aims to add 31 beds to the existing 140.

In defense matters, the Council of Ministers authorized the acquisition of three new military transport aircraft. Additionally, up to 4.4 million euros has been approved for the 2027 and 2028 period to cover maintenance and inspection services for the F-16 fighter jet system. The government is currently evaluating the replacement of the aging F-16 fleet, with potential contenders including Lockheed Martin, Saab, Airbus, and Dassault Aviation.