Portugal weighs F-35 acquisition as Lockheed Martin offers component production

Lockheed Martin confirmed that it can produce components for the fifth‑generation F‑35 fighter in Portugal and provide maintenance services if the Portuguese government selects the aircraft to replace its aging F‑16 fleet. The company has identified 16 possible partnership projects with Portuguese companies, universities and research centres, spanning co‑production, technology collaboration and supply‑chain integration.

The United States firm is awaiting a formal Letter of Request from Portugal under the Foreign Military Sales process before any purchase can be finalized. While it has been in regular contact with the Portuguese Air Force, there has been no direct dialogue with the government yet. A potential deal would involve roughly 27 F‑35s at an estimated cost of €5.5 billion, intended to ensure interoperability with other NATO users.

Competing offers are being examined from Sweden’s Saab Gripen and a European consortium that includes Airbus’s Eurofighter Typhoon. Lockheed emphasizes that the request letter is not a commitment but stresses that industrial cooperation would continue regardless of the final decision.