Full Breakdown
U.S. Push for F-35 Jets as Portugal Mulls Replacement of Its F-16 Fleet
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – U.S. Offer and Portuguese Decision-Making (Oct 8 2026)
On Oct 8 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Lisbon and announced that Washington would make a “very competitive” offer of F-35A fighter jets to replace Portugal’s aging F-16 fleet. Portugal has not yet launched a formal tender, but the meeting marked a high-level political push for the American stealth aircraft.
Background & Context – Portugal’s F-16 Fleet
Portugal’s air force (Força Aérea Portuguesa) operates 25 modernized F-16AM/BM aircraft—21 single-seat and four two-seat jets—based at Monte Real Air Base (BA5). The fleet originated from two U.S. “Peace Atlantis” purchases: 20 new-build Block 15OCU aircraft delivered beginning in 1994 and 25 former U.S. Block 15OCU aircraft received in 1999. They have night-vision goggles, Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Systems and Litening II targeting pods, and have participated in NATO air-policing rotations, including a deployment on May 23 2023 to the Baltic Air Policing Mission in Lithuania. The airframes could remain in service into the mid-2040s, but they rely on the older AN/APG-66(V)2 radar, and further upgrades such as an AESA radar would be costly.
Data & Statistics
- 25 modernized F-16AM/BM aircraft in service.
- 45 total F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft acquired since 1994.
- 900+ F-35s already in service or on order across Europe (U.S. Ambassador to Portugal John Arrigo).
Official Statements & Responses
Rubio framed the F-35 as the “best aircraft in the world” and said Washington seeks only a “fair chance” to present a proposal that can compete with European offers. He linked the aircraft’s low observability, sensor-fusion and networked capabilities to NATO interoperability.
Rangel reiterated that the Portuguese state will decide “according to the national interest” and that the decision will be made by the Ministry of Defense in consultation with the entire government. He also noted that the discussion covered broader economic and security topics, including the use of Lajes Air Base for U.S. operations linked to the Iran conflict.
European competitors—Airbus (Eurofighter Typhoon), Dassault (Rafale) and Saab (Gripen E)—have signaled intent to submit unsolicited proposals, with Airbus planning a package that could include financing and industrial participation.
Why It Matters / Impact
Choosing the F-35 would deepen Portugal’s defense ties with the United States and embed the country in the growing European F-35 community, enhancing NATO interoperability. Selecting a European fighter could bolster domestic industrial participation and reduce reliance on U.S. technology. The decision also intersects with Portugal’s support for U.S. use of Lajes Air Base and its commitment to meet NATO defense-spending targets.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources agree Portugal is weighing the F-35 against European alternatives, but no outlet provides a definitive timeline for a formal tender. The exact composition of any future U.S. package—pricing, sustainment costs, or industrial offsets—remains unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Portugal is a great ally, very cooperative ally of the United States and a country with which we already have a solid and growing relationship.” — State Marco Rubio
- “The Portuguese state will always decide in ?accordance with the national interest. There is one point that is also clear: we are seriously considering the F-35 proposal, just as we are considering others,” — Paulo Rangel, Portuguese foreign minister
What’s Next
Portugal’s Ministry of Defense is expected to issue a formal request for proposals later in 2026, after internal assessments of capability gaps and budgetary constraints. The outcome will determine whether the Portuguese Air Force transitions to a fifth-generation platform or continues to upgrade its existing fourth-generation fleet.