🇵🇹 Portugal moves to replace the Chipmunk with new basic trainer aircraft

The Portuguese Air Force appears to have taken a long-awaited step toward modernising its pilot training system, with reports indicating the signing of a contract for seven new basic trainer aircraft. While the exact model has not been disclosed, the move would mark the beginning of the end for one of the oldest aircraft still in military service in Europe.

According to available information, the contract has been awarded to World Aviation SL and is valued at approximately €7.2 million. The package reportedly includes seven aircraft along with two flight simulators, with deliveries expected within a relatively short timeframe of six to ten months.

Although details remain limited, the overall structure of the deal provides useful clues. The cost suggests a lightweight platform, most likely a basic trainer designed for initial flight instruction rather than advanced or turboprop training roles. This would place the future aircraft in the same category as modern entry-level trainers used to introduce new pilots to fundamental flying skills before progressing to more complex systems.

What makes this development particularly notable is the aircraft it is set to replace. The de Havilland Chipmunk has been in service for decades and represents a training philosophy from a very different era. While it has remained a reliable platform, its continued use highlights the gap between legacy systems and modern training requirements.

Turbulence in Lisbon: Portugal Rethinks F-35 Purchase

Amid conflicting signals from military and political leadership, Portugal's decision on acquiring F-35 fighters remains uncertain. The Air Force pushes forward, while the Defense Ministry urges caution.

Portugal's effort to replace its aging fleet of F-16 fighter jets has turned into a geopolitical balancing act. While the Portuguese Air Force strongly supports acquiring the fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II, recent political hesitations have cast doubt over the program's future. This blog post explores the internal debate in Lisbon, the reasons behind it, and what it means for Portugal's defense posture and international partnerships.

Portugal’s path toward modernizing its fighter fleet has encountered unexpected turbulence. What once seemed like a straightforward transition from F-16s to the Lockheed Martin F-35A has turned into a debate over national sovereignty, alliance reliability, and long-term strategic independence.

In 2024, Portuguese Air Force Chief General João Cartaxo Alves publicly confirmed the F-35A as the most suitable aircraft to replace Portugal’s aging F-16s. The advanced stealth fighter offered unrivaled interoperability with NATO forces, long-term operational relevance, and cutting-edge technology.

However, in early 2025, Defense Minister Nuno Melo issued statements that took many by surprise. Citing concerns over the unpredictability of U.S. foreign policy—especially under a potential second Donald Trump presidency—Melo warned about relying too heavily on American defense technology. He highlighted potential limitations on operational autonomy and maintenance logistics due to the F-35's cloud-based management systems controlled by the U.S.

Melo’s position sparked speculation that Portugal could shift focus to European alternatives. Leading candidates include the French Dassault Rafale, the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon, and Sweden’s Saab Gripen, all of which offer varying degrees of performance and political alignment.

Despite these reservations, the Portuguese Air Force remains firm in its position. On April 22, 2025, General Alves reiterated that the F-35 is “the only fifth-generation aircraft capable of fulfilling our mission requirements and guaranteeing interoperability with NATO.”

At present, Portugal has not entered a formal procurement process or submitted a letter of request to the U.S. government. The decision is now likely to fall into the hands of the next government following national elections scheduled for May 18.

Portugal’s F-35 debate highlights the complex intersection of defense capability and geopolitical risk management. While the Air Force looks toward a future defined by stealth and data-centric warfare, political leadership is weighing national autonomy and alliance dynamics. The final decision will serve as a key signal of Portugal’s defense priorities in an increasingly uncertain world.

FIRST KC-390 FOR PORTUGUESE AIR FORCE ARRIVES IN BEJA AB

The first Embraer KC-390, PT-ZDK (c/n 390000011), for the Força Aérea Portuguesa (Portuguese Air Force) has arrived today, 16 October 2022 at its new homebase Beja (BA 111).

It departed yesterday from Gavião Peixoto, São Paulo, Brazil, en route to Portugal. On the last leg of its flight the new Embraer was escorted by two General Dynamics F-16s. It was delivered under its test registration PT-ZDK, but will ultimately receive the Portuguese serial 26901.

After touching Portuguese soil, the KC-390 will undergo a phase of integration of NATO equipment and certified by the National Aeronautical Authority. It is recalled that Portugal ordered five KC-390 Millennium aircraft and a simulator in 2019, and the first Portuguese crew successfully completed the qualification course in November 2021.

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Portugal Near to Finalize Contract For Five Embraer KC-390 Transport Aircraft

Embraer is on the verge of completing a deal with Portugal confirming the country as the first export customer for the KC-390 tanker transport.
“We are discussing with the government the final contract,” the Brazilian airframer’s chief executive Paulo Cesar Silva said at a pre-Farnborough air show media briefing in Lisbon on 26 June.
It comes just over a year after Portugal opened negotiations to buy five KC-390s, with an option for a sixth, with deliveries starting in 2021.
Four nations – other than Brazil – originally committed to the military aircraft, which flew for the first time in 2015. However, progress with Argentina, the Czech Republic and Chile appears to have stalled.
Embraer is exhibiting the KC-390 at this year's Farnborough air show, as well as the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford that immediately precedes it.
flightglobal

Portugal deploys F-16s to Romania

A Portuguese Air Force F-16 detachment deployed to Borcea Air Force Base, Romania in mid-September for training and exercise missions within the Assurance Measures framework.
On September 18, 2017, Portugal landed a military force in support of four F-16 fighter jets, starting a two-month deployment to the Romanian Air Base of Borcea for the exercise "Falcon Defense 2017".
The Portuguese fighter aircraft will fly training missions in the area in support of NATO policy, to include combined joint missions with the Romanian Air Force, Army and Navy and the Canadian Air Force CF-18s, also deployed in the region, conducting enhanced Air Policing and training missions in Romania. Some of this flying activity will be controlled by a NATO E3-A AWACS operating over the two Allies on the Black Sea shores. The aim of this training is to hone skills and further consolidate cross-Ally interoperability.
Portugal transferred to the Romanian Air Force, 12 F-16 aircraft, while providing training to more than 80 Romanian military personnel in Portugal. With all the fighters delivered, the Portuguese Air Force is now conducting joint training of tactics, techniques and procedures for operations of the jets until late 2018.
"This training deployment is highly beneficial” said Detachment Commander, Lieutenant Colonel João "Jedi” Rosa, who is in charge of 70 military to include pilots, operators, maintainers as well as communications, logistics and other specialists. "While my team has the opportunity to practice deployment and operation, they can, simultaneously, test skills and capabilities away from their home base. Additionally, we are able to fly joint training sorties alongside with our Allies further strengthening the bonds and the interoperability of this Alliance”, he added.
This deployment is one example of Allies organizing joint training activities underlining cohesion and interoperability and showcasing the level of cooperation and consistency required to maintain high NATO standards.
nato

Romania looks to buy 20 more F-16s

Romania is looking to increase the size of its fighter fleet after the government decided to apportion 2% of GDP for defence in 2017. The Parliament and Supreme Defence Council (CSAT) have approved the decision.
"My intention is to finalise this year the decision to have another 20 F-16 fighters. The Romanian Air Force has nine now and there will be 12 by the end of the year, but we need more to strengthen our air force capability. As a matter of principle Romania intends to buy these 20 F-16 fighters from the United States. All further details will be announced [in due course", Defence Minister Beniamin Les told the Romanian parliament on 13 February.
Romania bought 12 F-16s from Portugal in September 2013. These include nine F-16AM single-seaters and three F-16BM two-seaters and were bought via C N Romtehnica under the Peace Carpathian programme, with third-party transfer authorisation coming from the US government.
janes

Portugal envisages acquisition of KC-390 aircraft

The Portuguese Ministry of National Defence (MoND) currently considers the Embraer KC-390 multipurpose transport aircraft as an adequate solution to progressively replace the country's Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules aircraft, it told Jane's on 9 March.
No contract has yet been placed, but up to six aircraft are expected to be purchased. Portugal made an information request to Embraer last October and is currently analysing the information provided, the MoND told Jane's .
The aircraft would conduct troop and cargo transport, firefighting, and air-to-air refuelling missions in the Portuguese Air Force service, the MoND said.
Several Portuguese companies, including OGMA-Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal (partially owned by Embraer), Embraer Metálicas, Embraer Compósitos, and CEiiA, are involved with the KC-390 programme, which Jane's understands favours a potential buy of the type.
janes

Romanian F-16 Paint Scheme Revealed

cannontwo

Portugal deploys F-16s to Romania

Four F-16AM of the Portuguese Air Force will arrive at the Romanian Air Force 71st Air on 4 May.
The aircraft of Squadron 201 'Falcões' and Squadron 301 'Jaguares' from Monte Real airbase No. 5 will be stationed in Romania until 30 June as part of 'Falcon Defence 2015' unitary concept training mission. This is intended as a reassurance measure for the alliance's eastern members and also to meet specific NATO interoperability and standardisation requirements.
The deployment follows closely behind the 1 September and 31 December 2014 deployment of six Portuguese F-16AM aircraft to Siauliai airbase in Lithuania for NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission.
From September 2016 to late 2017, 12 Portuguese F-16s (nine single-seat F-16AM and three twin-seat F-16BM aircraft) will be transferred to the Romanian Air Force as part of a deal sealed by both countries in 2013. The aircraft will progressively replace the ageing MiG-21 LanceR fighters currently fielded by Romania.
Portugal will keep 39 aircraft in its inventory including the three F-16A Block 15s granted by the United States as excess defence articles and now being modernised by OGMA-Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal.
janes

Portuguese F-16 Jets Will Head to Romania for NATO Mission in May

Four Portuguese F-16 fighter jets and 150 Portuguese troops and civilians will be sent to Ukraine neighbor Romania in May and June to participate in NATO aerial policing missions.
Portugal said it has approved a request from Romanian Prime Minister to allow the planes and troops into the country.
Romania, which is on NATO's eastern flank, has hosted foreign troops and missions from other member countries since the Ukraine crisis broke out at the end of 2013. This is the first time Portuguese troops come to the country.
NATO decided earlier this month to set up command-and-control centers in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria in response to challenges from Russia and Islamic extremists.
In an emergency, the centers will help speed up the arrival of the new quick-reaction force as well as later NATO reinforcements.
FBI chief, who visited Romania Tuesday, said cyber security and fighting corruption and terrorism are priorities for both the U.S. and Romania.
abcnews

Portugal approves F-16, Hercules Upgrade

Portugal approved its military programming law for the next 12 years on 22 January, although the plan to complete this in 2026 will be reviewed every four years
The air force's 30 F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon fighters will receive further software upgrades and its six C-130H Hercules transport aircraft will be modernised to extend the type's service life until 2030. These transports will be eventually replaced by Embraer KC-390s after Portugal firmed up a letter of intent with Brazil for six aircraft in September 2010.
These measures are leading a deep structural and equipment modernisation plan for Portugal and come after the country exited a three-year EU-IMF economic adjustment programme in June 2014.
janes

NATO Fighters scrambled as Russian spy plane violates Estonian air space

A Russian intelligence aircraft briefly crossed into NATO airspace earlier this week, NATO said Wednesday.
The NATO’s radars detected an unidentified plane flying near NATO airspace in the Baltic Sea at about 9 a.m. CET on Tuesday. Danish F-16 fighter jets were scrambled, as were Portuguese F-16s that were part of NATO’s air policing mission over the Baltics. They were assisted by fighters from Sweden.
The Russian plane, an IL-20 intelligence collection aircraft, took off from Kaliningrad and flew over the Baltic Sea toward Denmark, NATO said, and it was met by aircraft from the three nations. As the IL-20 turned and headed south, it began approaching the airspace of Estonia, a NATO member.
The Russian aircraft entered Estonian airspace near the island of Saaremaa for less than one minute, an incursion of about 600 meters, NATO said. Portuguese F-16s made visual contact with the IL-20 and escorted it away from NATO airspace.
Russian officials denied the assertion. The Russian Defense Ministry told local news agencies that the plane had not violated Estonian airspace and was on a routine training mission from Kaliningrad in international airspace.
It’s standard procedure for NATO planes to scramble and intercept any unknown aircraft that approach NATO airspace. The Alliance said in a statement Wednesday that such flights are potentially dangerous, because Russian military planes often don't file flight plans or use their onboard transponders, leaving civilian air traffic control operators unable detect them or ensure they don't interfere with civilian air traffic.
wsj

C295 pushes for UK maritime patrol contest

One of the potential bidders for a future UK maritime patrol aircraft requirement is calling on the Ministry of Defence to hold a competition, rather than “rush in” to a sole-source deal to buy Boeing’s 737-based P-8 Poseidon.
Airbus Defence & Space has been touting its multirole C295 as an affordable means of reinstating a lapsed maritime patrol capability for the Royal Air Force, proposing an acquisition of around 12 aircraft. A Portuguese air force example was on display at the Farnborough air show as part of the airframer’s promotional activity around the type.
Pointing to a long-running consultation involving the Ministry of Defence and industry RAF need urgently to replace the maritime patrol component.
flightglobal

Romania – Weapons, Equipment, and Support for F-16 Block 15 MLU Aircraft

The Government of Romania has requested a possible sale of weapons, equipment, and support for 12 F-16 MLU Block 15 aircraft that will be procured through a third party transfer from Portugal. Articles and services will include:

• 13 Embedded Global Positioning Systems/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGPS/INS) with GPS Security Devices, Airborne
• 3 AN/ALQ-131 Electronic Countermeasure Pods
• 30 AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)
• 5 AIM-120C Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs)
• 60 AIM-9M Sidewinder Missiles
• 4 AIM-9M CATMs
• 48 LAU-129 Launchers
• 10 GBU-12 Enhanced Guided Bomb Units
• 18 AGM-65H/KB Maverick Missiles
• 4 AGM-65 CATMs
• 15 Multifunctional Information Distribution System/Low Volume Terminals
• 2 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Ground Support Systems

Also included are spare and repair parts, support equipment, tanker support, ferry services, repair and return services, software development/integration, test and equipment, supply support, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The proposed sale will support the Romanian Air Force’s (RoAF) efforts to equip and utilize the 12 F-16 aircraft it is procuring from Portugal.
dsca

Romania Defense Ministry signs contract to buy Portuguese F-16 aircraft

Romania's Defense minister announced that he had signed a contract with the Portuguese for the purchase of F-16 airplanes and had paid the first installment of 100 million euro from the total amount of 600 million euro as stipulated by contract.
Minister said, early this month that the equipping program with multirole aircraft would begin this fall by modernizing the airplanes Romania purchased from Portugal. The first F-16 planes will reach Romania in 2015.
Romania will purchase a squadron of second hand F16 planes from Portugal. On June 19, the government approved the bill on the purchase of multirole planes, which was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies. President Traian Basescu promulgated the law on the purchase of multirole planes by mid July.
actmedia

Engine shortage dogs Portuguese AW101 fleet

Portugal’s fleet of AgustaWestland AW101 Merlin helicopters for search and rescue (SAR), is being prevented from reaching higher levels of readiness due to problems with the support of the type’s Rolls-Royce Turbomeca RTM322 engines.
At present, five of the 12-aircraft fleet operated by the Portuguese air force’s 751 Sqn are out of service, either due to the unavailability of engines or spare parts for them, says AgustaWestland, who runs sustainment activities for the nation’s Merlin fleet from Montijo air base near Lisbon.
Availability of the five aircraft based at Montijo in 2012 was at 70%, with a similar figure achieved so far this year.
flightglobal

Bulgaria To Buy Expensive, Third-Hand F-16 Aircraft

The Bulgarian Defense Ministry has decided to acquire expensive third-hand F-16s from Portugal, according to the Bulgarian media reports.

The Bulgarian government will pay approximately BGN 700 M for nine F-16s Block 15 to Portugal even though in 1999 Portugal paid twice less – BGN 268 M – to the US government for 25 second-hand F-16 planes, the Bulgarian daily Sega reported Thursday.

Gen. Rumen Radev told the Presa daily that the Portuguese deal was the best option because it included everything necessary for the operation of the planes, while Gripen and Italy offered only the planes without arms and with only the most basic land equipment for their operation.

According to Radev, even though the second-hand fighter jets from Portugal are already 30-years-old, they can be used for 25 more years.

defenseworld

Romania To Buy 12 Second-Hand F-16 Jet Fighter Aircraft From Portugal

Romania plans to procure 12 used F-16 jet fighter aircraft from Portugal in a five year contract worth $600 million.

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Un KC-30 de EADS pierde sonda de reabastecimiento durante un vuelo/KC-30 suffers testing accident

Uno de los Airbus Military KC-30A de reabastecimiento en vuelo para la Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) se vió involucrado en un accidente, durante un vuelo de prueba, junto a un F-16 de la Fuerza Aérea Portuguesa, y en el que perdió la sonda de reabastecimiento en vuelo, que cayó al mar, el pasado 20 de enero.
Ambos aviones sufrieron daños considerables.
EADS no se ha pronunciado respecto al accidente. La RAAF estaba a punto de recibir las primeras unidades, tras dos años de retrasos en el programa.
key.Aero
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One of the Airbus Military KC-30A aerial refuelling tankers destined for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was involved in an incident with a Portuguese Air Force F-16 during refuelling trials on January 20.
The refuelling probe broke off during a contact by the fighter, with both aircraft sustaining damage. The probe fell into the Atlantic Ocean and has yet to be found.
EADS has yet to say anything about the incident, but the RAAF was due to commence acceptance trials of the aircraft in the near future after a two-year delay in the programme.
key.Aero

Portugal empieza a recibir P-3 Orion modernizados/ Upgraded Orions for Portugal

La Fuerza Aérea Portuguesa (FAP), ha recibido el primer P-3C CUP+, de los cinco que compró a la Marina Holandesa en 2005. Portugal retirará su flota actual de P-3P Orion.
Los dos primeros aviones serán modernizados por Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems, los tres restantes serán modernizados por la industria local y serán entregados en 2012.
Los Orion se utilizarán para misiones de patrulla marítima por la Esquadra 601, de la Base Aérea de Beja. Los seis P-3P actuales, fueron comprados a Australia en 1985, entrando en servicio en 1988.
key.aero
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The Portuguese Air Force has taken delivery of the first of five upgraded P-3C CUP+ standard Orions. The Portuguese Air Force's fleet of P-3P Orions will be retired. The Portuguese Air Force has taken delivery of the first of five upgraded P-3C CUP+ standard Orions purchased from the Royal Netherlands Navy in February 2005.
Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems undertook the work on the first two aircraft through a €99 million contract awarded by the Portuguese Ministry of Defence. The other three aircraft will be upgraded by Portuguese industry and will be delivered by 2012.
The Orions will be used in the maritime surveillance role by Esquadra 601 of the Portuguese Air Force at Beja Air Base and will replace six P-3P aircraft purchased from the Royal Australian Air Force in 1985 and brought into operation in 1988.
key.aero