Overview
- U.S. envoy John Arrigo urged Lisbon to adopt Lockheed Martin’s F-35, emphasizing NATO interoperability and alignment with Europe’s growing F-35 community.
- Defense Minister Nuno Melo has said no formal selection process is underway and no orders have been placed, despite reassessments in 2025.
- Air Force Chief Gen. João Cartaxo Alves says replacement work is progressing internally and highlights the F-16 fleet’s age, with some jets approaching 40 years in service.
- Alves has floated a potential buy of 14 to 28 aircraft, suggesting an initial tranche could bridge to longer-term modernization.
- Melo has signaled interest in joining Europe’s FCAS or GCAP as an observer, and Arrigo’s appeal reflects a wider push by U.S. diplomats on allied fighter choices, including recent messaging in Canada.