US Ambassador Urges Portugal to Buy F-35 as F-16 Replacement

February 23, 2026

1 min read

Portugal Weighs Options Amid NATO Interoperability Push

The US ambassador in Lisbon has urged Portugal to buy the F-35 as a potential replacement for its aging F-16 fleet. Defense Minister Nuno Melo said no purchase decision had been made, but internal work is moving ahead. The Portuguese Air Force Chief of Staff General João Cartaxo Alves argued that the F-16 should have started being replaced two decades ago. Portugal is considering joining one of Europe’s sixth-generation fighter programs, FCAS or GCAP.

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Companies Mentioned

Lockheed Martin

Topics

F-35 Portugal NATO fighter jet air defense

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Source JAN Tracker: SRCE-2026-1771851690172-2783 Source Type: RSS

URL: https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/us-ambassador-pitches-f-35-portugal-revisits-f16-replacement

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US Ambassador Urges Portugal to Buy F-35 as F-16 Replacement

February 23, 2026

1 min read

Portugal Weighs Options Amid NATO Interoperability Push

The US ambassador in Lisbon has urged Portugal to buy the F-35 as a potential replacement for its aging F-16 fleet. Defense Minister Nuno Melo said no purchase decision had been made, but internal work is moving ahead. The Portuguese Air Force Chief of Staff General João Cartaxo Alves argued that the F-16 should have started being replaced two decades ago. Portugal is considering joining one of Europe’s sixth-generation fighter programs, FCAS or GCAP.

Key Takeaways

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Silver membership required Upgrade to Silver to access Key Takeaways.

Strategic Implications

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Companies Mentioned

Lockheed Martin

Topics

F-35 Portugal NATO fighter jet air defense

Source JAN Tracker: SRCE-2026-1771851690172-2783 Source Type: RSS

URL: https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/us-ambassador-pitches-f-35-portugal-revisits-f16-replacement