As Portugal reconsiders the plans to procure the F-35, Airbus is now preparing to offer the Eurofighter Typhoon as replacement for the aging F-16 fleet.
Airbus Defence and Space announced on Oct. 27, 2025, that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Portuguese Cluster for Aeronautics, Space and Defence Industries (AED Cluster Portugal) to identify cooperation opportunities ahead of the upcoming fighter fleet replacement in the country. Earlier this year, Portugal said it was reconsidering its plans to acquire the F-35 Lightning II.
However, the country still needs to replace its aging F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet. According to FlightGlobal’s World Air Forces 2025, Portugal has a total of 25 F-16s in service, of which four are twin-seaters, with at least 30 years of service.
Airbus Defence and Space and the Portuguese Cluster for Aeronautics, Space and Defence Industries (AED Cluster Portugal) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to identify cooperation opportunities ahead of the upcoming fighter fleet replacement in the country. 🇵🇹
In… pic.twitter.com/4yT0lAuaV9
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) October 27, 2025
According to Airbus, in the frame of this agreement, a base has been set for the launch a series of studies in order to create a valuable industrial proposition to replace the current Portuguese F-16 fleet with the Eurofighter Typhoon. Details are still unknown, however Portugal had already €5.5 billion allocated for the replacement, with the original plan being for 27 F-35s.
F-35 Dilemma
In an interview with Portuguese media outlet Público published on Mar. 13, 2025, Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo dismissed the possibility of ordering the fifth-generation fighter, aligning with other European nations reconsidering their defense procurement strategies. The Minister pointed directly at the uncertainty surrounding the Trump administration as a key factor in the decision.
The comments followed Trump’s controversial remarks about NATO after taking office, questioning member contributions and even suggesting the U.S. might not uphold its defense commitments, which have raised alarms across Europe. Among the main concerns, the Minister mentioned the predictability of the allies and “limitations to use, maintenance, components, and everything that has to do with ensuring that aircraft will be operational and used in all types of scenarios.”
Because of this, the Minister further said “There are several options that must be considered, particularly in the context of European production and also taking into account the return that these options may have on the Portuguese economy.” This hinted at a possible evaluation of a replacement manufactured in Europe.
Eurofighter Proposal
The MoU between Airbus and AED Cluster Portugal is paving the way for pitching the Eurofighter Typhoon to the Portuguese Air Force. Airbus has a good cooperation with Portugal, and holds a 46% stake in the ownership of the Eurofigher consortium, representing both Germany and Spain.
“In a time where European sovereignty and industrial autonomy is at the forefront of our strategy, Airbus strongly believes that the Eurofighter is the best option for this replacement,” says Jose Luis de Miguel Cortes, Head of Europe at Airbus Defence and Space.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is the largest European single defense program, with 780 aircraft ordered by ten nations and 600 already in service. Turkey became the latest client, signing a deal to acquire 20 aircraft on Oct. 27, while many of the partner nations are acquiring new batches of the jet.
The Typhoons pitched to Portugal would most likely come in the same configuration that Italy, Germany and Spain are currently acquiring. This includes the new European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk 1 AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar and the Phase 4 Enhancement (P4E) configuration.
P4E contains a number of new developments, including an automated sensor management capability for all Typhoon radars, allowing to exploit the capabilities of the new AESA radar to complete multiple simultaneous tasks, while reducing the pilot workload. The package is also said to include an improved cockpit interface and enhanced Radio Frequency Interoperability (RFIO), which will improve survivability and lethality, as well as DASS (Defensive Aids Sub-System) upgrades.
The Original Plan
In another long interview with Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias published on Apr. 12, 2024, the Portuguese Air Force Chief of Staff, General João Cartaxo Alves, confirmed the plan of the Força Aérea Portuguesa to replace the F-16 with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II aircraft, saying the transition had already started.
Gen. Cartaxo Alves stated that the decision was aimed at keeping in line with the majority of European allies who have already begun transitioning to the F-35, as part of their strategic efforts. Noteworthy, the F-35 procurement by Portugal has always been somewhat controversial.
In April 2024, Air Force Chief of Staff General João Cartaxo Alves confirmed the service was in a “transition” phase toward the stealth fighter, mirroring decisions made by several NATO partners. The Chief of the Portuguese Air Force also added that the transition to a new fighter aircraft would span approximately two decades, with an estimated expenditure of 5.5 billion Euro allocated for this program.
The statements of Cartaxo Alves had made the headlines in 2023 too: at a military airlift and refueling conference in Lisbon, the Portuguese Air Force Chief of Staff publicly acknowledged that Lockheed Martin’s 5th-generation fighter was a suitable replacement for the country’s aging F-16 fleet. However, the enthusiasm was quickly tempered by the government.
The Portuguese Ministry of Defense wasted no time in clarifying that no formal procurement process was in place. “This is a vision for the future, so currently, there is no process for purchasing aircraft to replace the F-16,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Helena Carreiras in a statement to Breaking Defense.
Fast forward to March 2025, with the F-35 seemingly off the table, Portugal’s next move remains unclear. When asked about the possibility of acquiring the Dassault Rafale, Melo declined to comment.
Meanwhile, in June 2025, Lockheed Martin and the AED Cluster Portugal signed an MoU to identify potential Portuguese companies for future industrial activities. “This partnership aims to integrate local businesses into the production, research, development, maintenance, and training for the world’s most advanced stealth fighter,” said the U.S. Embassy Portugal at the time.
