Portugal rethinks fighter jet plans amid geopolitical shifts

The wisdom of purchasing F-35s for the Portuguese Air Force was questioned as early as mid-March, when outgoing Defence Minister Nuno Melo remarked that "the predictability of our allies is a greater asset to take into account." He was referring to Donald Trump's actions, which involved aggressive rhetoric not only towards Ukraine but also towards NATO allies. For similar reasons, the abandonment of F-35 purchases began to be discussed in Canada and even in Germany.

Ultimately, the new aircraft for the Portuguese Air Force will be chosen by the new government. One high-ranking official stated that, in the search for fighters to replace the aging F-16s, "all options" are being examined.

"We need to analyze what the other ones can do or cannot do, because in the end, we need to say or take the decision if we were willing to commit to option A, B or C. There’s pros and cons that we need to put inside our analysis, and, of course, put to politicians all the information they need in order to take those decisions, that are not easy," said Major General João Nogueira, Director of the Weapons Systems Maintenance Division in the Portuguese Air Force.

In Portugal, voices have been raised that purchasing the F-35 could prove to be a major mistake if diplomatic relations with the United States deteriorate in the future. Opponents of their purchase suggest that the U.S. could restrict the use of these fighters. Concerns involve the potential immobilization of the F-35 using a so-called kill switch, the existence of which is, however, denied. Additionally, scenarios are being considered involving, for example, difficulty with maintenance or purchasing spare parts, which could also allow the U.S. to enforce desired actions by the country's authorities.

The conventional variant of the F-35A for the Air Force is a single-seat multirole fighter. It is distinguished by stealth technology, meaning reduced detectability in flight. It also provides the ability to conduct electronic warfare and carry several tonnes of conventional armament (missiles and bombs). It can achieve a speed of approximately 1.6 Mach (about 2,000 km/h) and operate at an altitude of up to 15,000 metres.

Nogueira did not specify which other fighters are being considered in their analyses. Potentially, these could be the Eurofighter Typhoon, French Rafale, and Swedish Gripen. Although they do not offer all the capabilities provided by the F-35, the purchase of one of them may be justified not only by technical capabilities but also by other factors (price, maintenance capabilities, or less dependence on electronics).

According to former Pentagon consultant Reuben F. Johnson, the Swedish Gripen is a highly underrated aircraft that should be considered as an alternative to the F-35. It is a cheaper, less computerized aircraft that also stands out, among other things, for its ability to operate from short, improvised runways.