Latest news and stories about military in Portugal for expats and residents.
The President of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, has advocated for a renegotiation of the Bilateral Defense and Cooperation Agreement with the United States. Bolieiro argues that a review is necessary to compensate the region for its increased geostrategic value, though he acknowledged the current political climate in the U.S. may complicate such discussions.
The Portuguese Navy has reopened disciplinary proceedings against crew members who refused to board the NRP Mondego in 2023, following a Supreme Administrative Court ruling that annulled previous sanctions due to procedural errors.
The President of the Republic visited the Santa Margarida Military Camp in Constância on Thursday.
Accompanied by Nuno Melo, the President watched exercises involving approximately 120 soldiers and learned about equipment used in civil emergencies and high-intensity combat operations.
The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) is set to bolster its space capabilities with the launch of the second Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite for the Atlantic Constellation. This will be the first one fully acquired by the institution, marking a decisive step in consolidating Earth observation from space.
NATO will hold a large-scale exercise in the Mediterranean Sea between Monday and Thursday, with contributions from Portugal, led by the Alliance's naval strike and support forces based in Oeiras.
This is the second edition of NATO's main enhanced vigilance activity, Neptune Strike 26, taking place between April 27 and 30.
They started by supplying fighter jets to Sweden, but today Saab's Gripen jets are already part of the Air Forces of countries such as South Africa, Hungary, Thailand, Brazil and, since last year, Colombia. And Saab wants to add the Portuguese Air Force to the flags currently displayed at its production facility in Linköping, ...
Three military personnel are in court accused of violating state secrets and insubordination. Thirteen refused to board the ship Mondego, allegedly due to a lack of proper conditions.
With a crew of 38, the submarine NRP Tridente left the Lisbon Naval Base on Tuesday, April 14, for a NATO mission lasting approximately two and a half months. During this deployment, the submarine will join the Atlantic Alliance's 'Brilliant Shield' operation and participate in 'Dynamic Mongoose', one of NATO's most significant anti-submarine warfare exercises. The mission also includes support for the Royal Navy's Fleet Operational Standards and Training (FOST) for two weeks. Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa, Chief of the Naval Staff, highlighted the submarine's role in ensuring security and surveillance for the Alliance.
The Portuguese Navy submarine NRP Tridente departs this Tuesday from the Lisbon Naval Base with a crew of 38 military personnel, joining NATO's Operation Brilliant Shield. This operation already includes the frigate NRP D. Francisco de Almeida with a crew of 165 military personnel. Operation Brilliant Shield, under the operational control of the Command of...
The ship D. Francisco de Almeida marks the Portuguese participation in Operation Brilliant Shield, which aims to monitor the activities of the Russian Federation's naval and air assets. Two expeditions are planned.
“Reaffirming our commitment and contribution to collective defence,” states the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa.
The Portuguese Air Force intercepted a Russian Federation aircraft in the Baltic states. Portuguese F-16 fighter jets and military personnel from this branch of the Armed Forces have been reinforcing the region's air defence since the beginning of April as part of a NATO mission. The Portuguese F-16M jets, deployed in Estonia, carried out the operation last Monday, April 6.
A Portuguese Naval frigate is already at sea, with a crew of 165, destined for a four-month NATO mission in the Baltic Sea, to “control the Russian presence” there, which The post Portuguese ship sets out on NATO mission to Baltic appeared first on Portugal Resident.
It will participate in a NATO mission aimed at monitoring the activity of Russian naval assets. More than 160 Portuguese military personnel are involved in this mission.
The mission is part of a NATO plan to monitor the Russian presence in the three countries of the region. The Portuguese Air Force has also joined the initiative.
The mission is part of a NATO plan to monitor the Russian presence in the three countries of the region. The Portuguese Air Force has also joined the initiative.
The Portuguese Navy is sending a frigate this Wednesday to participate in a NATO mission in the Baltic, with the aim of monitoring Russian activity in the region. The NRP D. Francisco de Almeida departs with a crew of 165 military personnel. 'This is a commitment that is made on an annual basis. Every year we commit one to this naval force...'
With a payload capacity of 1,700 kilograms, the equipment has a flight autonomy of 27 hours and is remotely piloted via satellite by two people.
This is the second consecutive day that an unmanned aerial vehicle of this type has been seen on Portuguese soil.
The first American MQ-9 Reaper drone has passed through Lajes Base, on Terceira Island, in the Azores. The unmanned aircraft landed during the early hours of this Thursday, remained on the ground for just over an hour, and took off again after a technical inspection. The passage of this military aircraft, known as a 'killer drone', occurs in the context of the use of the Azorean base as a logistical point for United States operations. See the photo gallery.
The US President made statements regarding the war in Iran and says the conflict will end in “two or three weeks”. The MQ-9 Reaper, a US drone, is already in the Azores.
João Cardoso was 23 years old when he fell into the river during a special operations course exercise.
Infantry Second Lieutenant João Cardoso was 23 years old and was swept away by the current of the Balsemão river at the end of January, when bad weather was already being felt in Portugal.
The Air Force will deploy four F-16M aircraft and up to 95 military personnel to Ämari Air Base (BAA) in Estonia as part of the enhanced Air Policing 2026 (eAP26) mission, collaborating with NATO's collective defence mission in the Baltic region. This is the ninth Baltic Air Policing mission carried out by the Air Force and...
Lieutenant General Rafael Martins also reveals that the MQ-9 Reaper drones passed through Lajes Base “disassembled”.
Colonel José Carmo analyses the American drones believed to be passing through Lajes Air Base in the Azores.
The Portuguese defence communications company EID will reinforce the Portuguese Navy's integrated communication systems and networks under a contract running until 2031, valued at 42.3 million euros. The agreement covers the supply and implementation of a technological solution for the centralised management and control of internal and external communications on board Navy vessels. According to a statement released this Tuesday, the technology will be installed on naval platforms of high operational relevance, including new third-series ocean patrol vessels and replenishment ships. The agreement is valid from 2026 to 2031 and is funded through the Military Programming Law. The Integrated Communication Systems and Networks (SICC) integrate all communication subsystems, ensuring high levels of automation, efficiency, and reliability, while meeting NATO and EU standards. EID Director-General Martin Bennet described the partnership as a significant milestone that validates the technological robustness of the company's solutions. The report also notes 5.8 billion euros allocated to the Armed Forces, with Nuno Melo disclosing the countries of origin of the contracted companies.
