If Portugal buy aircraft, Portuguese companies can help in the production of components, research and development, as well as the maintenance and training
The American company Lockheed Martin signed a memorandum of understanding with AED Cluster Portugal on Tuesday to identify potential Portuguese companies to “integrate future industrial activities” linked to fifth generation F-35 fighter if the Air Force has acquired the aircraft.
With this agreement, AED Cluster Portugal, a platform that brings together more than 140 national entities linked to the Aeronautics, Defense and Space sectors, will “act as a bridge” between the US defense giant and the associate network to promote contact between the two parts.
“The AED has as its mission to streamline the national ecosystem, promoting collaborations that receive the industrial base. Lockheed Martin, as a reference partner, will be able to bring new opportunities to our associates, contributing to their development and integration in high technological demand programs,” says José Neves, president of AED Cluster Portugal, in a statement.
This document, signed on the margin of the Aed Days 2025 event in Lisbon, opens the doors for the partnership of Portuguese companies in various areas. According to a press release sent to the press, Lockheed Martin will look for partners in the national territory for air production, research and development airlines, as well as maintenance and training.
“Lockheed Martin is committed to building strong partnerships with industry in the countries that operate or are considering the acquisition of F-35. This memorandum of understanding with AED Cluster Portugal represents an important step to deepen how Portuguese companies can benefit from the economic opportunities of the entire portfolio of Lockheed Martin,” says Jr MacDonald, business development vice president F-35.
In Portugal, everything seemed to be sent to the acquisition of American stealing fighters F-35. The Air Force had studied the possibilitiesanalyzed the various alternatives and concluded by the purchase of 27 aircraft, in a business valued at 5.5 billion, which would be paid over 20 years. The aircraft manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, came to Portugal several times, performing several workshops to align the operational capabilities of fifth generation aircraft with the needs of Portugal.
But Donald Trump’s election and the following policies changed everything. The Minister of Defense said that the “World has already changed” and Portugal cannot be oblivious to the geopolitical surroundings, since its most important ally no longer offers the “predictability” of other times. Nuno Melo even admitted that “our ally” may bring limitations “in the use, maintenance, components” and everything they have to do with the guarantee that the F-35 remain operational in any kind of scenario.
“The recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO and in the international geostrategic plan, has to make us think the best options, because the predictability of our allies is a greater good to take into account,” the minister told the newspaper Publicadding that there are “several options that have to be considered”, particularly “in the context of European production”.
This information led rival companies to publicly manage their interest in providing their aircraft to the Portuguese Air Force. Swedish president Saab admitted Be ready to make an offer to the Portuguese state for the sale of the Gripen fighter. A few days later, it was the turn of the president of the French manufacturer Dassault, who showed availability To make an offer for the sale of Rafale fighters.
During the interview, the Portuguese Defense Minister insisted that the potential economic return to the Portuguese industry, particularly the Portuguese aeronautical cluster, will be a strong criterion to take into account, something that Lockheed Martin demonstrates to be ready to do this memorandum.
Currently, of the 1,200 F-35 fighters, about 700 were acquired by several European countries. Portugal is one of the few European nations that has not yet made a decision about the acquisition of its next generation of aircraft, at a time when the current 28 F-16 fleet risks being obsolete. In Declarations to CNN PortugalLast year, Air Force’s Chief of Staff (Cemfa) revealed that Portugal wanted to buy 27 F-35, with a cost of 5.5 billion euros, paid over a period of 20 years.
