Portugal eyes joining sixth-generation fighter programme

Portugal is looking to join either FCAS/SCAF or GCAP (pictured) as an observer country. (Janes/Sam Wise)

Portugal is to join one of the two competing European ‘sixth-generation' combat aircraft programmes as an observer, the country's Minister of National Defence João Nuno Lacerda Teixeira de Melo recently said.

Melo said in July the country will look to join either the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Système de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF) programme with France, Germany, and Spain (and Belgium as an observer) or the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

The minister provided no further details, except to say that a decision on which particular programme to join had not yet been taken.

The move is part of a wider plan by the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa: FAP) to replace its Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon fleet, which initially will see it acquire a ‘fifth-generation' combat aircraft as part of its Airpower Transformation Plan 2024–2030 known as Força Aérea 5.3.

With the F-16s now being upgraded to the Operational Flight Program (OFP) S3.25 standard, the ‘fifth-generation' combat aircraft to follow will likely be the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. Although not generally classed as ‘fifth generation' (originally a marketing term, but one that has come to be accepted as denoting capabilities of stealth, data fusion, and other advanced attributes), the Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Saab Gripen E have all also been presented as a possible post-F-16 solution for the FAP.

For more information on Portugal's future fighter plans, please see Portugal eyes F-35 buy .