Portugal's Air Force Favors US F‑35 Over European Jets

The Portuguese Air Force is leaning toward buying the American Lockheed Martin F‑35A Lightning II to replace its aging F‑16 fleet. An internal study that applied 20 technical criteria ranked the F‑35 first, ahead of the Swedish Gripen E, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the French Rafale. The potential contract could involve 14‑28 aircraft and be valued between €3 billion and €5 billion.

The selection process has not yet been opened to a public tender and the final decision remains political. Defence Minister Nuno Melo said the government will decide when the timing is appropriate, noting that both European and Atlantic options must be weighed.

At the AED Days conference in Estoril, Lockheed Martin, Saab and the Eurofighter consortium presented their offers. Representatives highlighted opportunities for Portuguese firms to join European supply chains, citing the EU SAFE loan programme and collaborations with companies such as Diehl Defence, Airbus Defence and Space and Critical Software.