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2 clusters · 4 sources · 5 days · First seen · Last updated

Categories: TECHNOLOGY

Portugal drone defence innovation

Entities: OPEX26 / ARTEX26 · General Eduardo Mendes Ferrão · Portugal · European Defence Agency · UAVision

Overview

In late July 2026 Portugal launched a dedicated drone‑defence hub inside the Oeiras Valley Innovation Lab. The centre brings together academia, the armed forces and companies such as Beyond Vision and UAVision to prototype and test drone technologies.

A few days later the European Defence Agency selected Portugal to host its first operational defence‑technology experimentation campaign (ARTEX26/OPEX26) at the Santa Margarida military field. The exercise will evaluate AI‑driven systems, unmanned aerial and ground vehicles, robotics, smart sensors and loitering‑munition drones in realistic scenarios. UAVision was chosen as one of five firms to trial attack drones in the Sentinel Strike Challenge, competing for cash prizes and a larger award. The events underline Portugal’s growing role as a European hub for defence innovation and cooperation with NATO and the EU.

Timeline

  1. 9 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Portugal Hosts First EU Defense Technology Experimentation Campaign

    Portugal will host the EU Defence Agency's first operational tech experiment, OPEX26, where UAVision joins four other firms to test loitering‑munition drones and other emerging systems at Santa Margarida.

  2. 13 days ago

    [TECHNOLOGY] 3 sources
    Portugal's Oeiras Valley Innovation Lab Launches National Drone Defence Hub

    Portugal's Oeiras Valley Innovation Lab is creating a national drone defence cluster, linking academia, industry and the military, with firms Beyond Vision and UAVision joining the initiative.

Sources

eco.sapo.pt · emissoradasbeiras.pt · observador.pt · sapo.pt