Global Conflict's video: Portugal F-35 KC-390 India

Portugal खरीद रहा है F-35 और KC-390, India कब खरीदेगा? Portugal eyes F-35 buy The Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft could emerge as the next combat aircraft in the inventory of the Portuguese Air Force (FAP). The Chief of Staff of the FAP, General João Guilherme Rosado Cartaxo Alves, described the F-35A as the preferred choice to replace the Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon on 27 November. Speaking at the SAE Media Group Military Airlift and Air-to-Air Refuelling conference in Lisbon, Gen Alves said the replacement process must start to prevent a loss of strategic relevance and operational credibility. He also noted that most European allies had already started the transition to the F-35. The existing F-16AM/BM could extend its operational capability until 2030, however, with increasing levels of obsolescence, he said at the event in late November. Gen Alves confirmed that an acquisition will occur after 2030 as part of the newly established ‘Air Force 5.3' modernisation plan. Portugal has been looking to replace its F-16 fleet with a fifth-generation fighter. The Director of the Engineering and Programs Directorate, Brigadier General João Rui Ramos Nogueira, told Janes that Portugal plans to acquire the F-35 through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, but declined to enter into details on the number of planned aircraft or an acquisition schedule. Brig Gen Nogueira noted that the decision to go forward with an acquisition of the fifth-generation fighter will be made by government officials at a later stage. Portuguese Air Force eyes additional transport and ISR capabilities The Portuguese Air Force (FAP) is looking to strengthen its transport and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities through the acquisition and modernisation of existing aircraft. The Director of the Engineering and Programs Directorate, Brigadier General João Rui Ramos Nogueira, told Janes that a sixth KC-390 Millennium tanker-transport aircraft is likely to be acquired from Embraer, while the FAP's Airbus C-295 VIMAR and Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft are to be upgraded. The FAP is now weighing the acquisition of a new KC-390 aircraft, Brig Gen Nogueira said, with a decision to be made in 2024. Portugal has until 2025 to trigger this option, he added. Five aircraft and related support and training were ordered in 2019. The first aircraft was delivered to 506 Squadron ‘Rinocerontes' in October 2023. The remaining four aircraft will be received in March 2024, March 2025, March 2026, and March 2027. The FAP is evaluating the possibility of returning to service and modernising a number of the P-3C maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft fleet it will receive from Germany, Brig Gen Nogueira told Janes. The number of aircraft is yet to be defined, he added. Portugal acquired six P-3C CUP Orion aircraft of the German Navy's Marinefliegergeschwader 3 ‘Graf Zeppelin' on 25 September, together with simulators and other equipment to support the operation of the current five P-3C CUP+ Orion aircraft of 601 Squadron ‘Lobos'.