Portuguese Navy seeks third submarine in military law proposal

Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa, Chief of the Navy Staff (CEMA), is advocating for the inclusion of a third submarine in the upcoming Military Programming Law (LPM) proposal. He identified the acquisition of a third submarine as a top priority, followed by the future replacement of helicopters used on frigates.

The LPM is a 12-year public investment plan for military equipment and resources that is due for parliamentary review this year. While the acquisition of new frigates is expected to be funded through European loans via the Security Action Instrument (SAFE), the replacement of helicopters is not immediate, as current models are operational until 2035.

Admiral Nobre de Sousa emphasized that submarine capability is a fundamental component of deterrence. He also addressed the security of undersea cables within Portuguese sovereign waters, noting that while submarines can help deter threats, the complexity of the challenges means no nation can claim perfect protection of such critical communication infrastructure.