Government wants a new submarine in the Armed Forces

The Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, announced plans for a third submarine in the upcoming Military Programming Law. Discussions on replacing F-16 fighters will occur after this law is approved. Melo emphasized the importance of technical and political assessments for future investments, including potential aircraft from various international manufacturers. He also addressed the status of military real estate, satellite production initiatives, and the involvement of military forces in firefighting efforts. The defense cooperation budget is set to increase by 15% in 2027. Melo remarked on the CDS-PP party dynamics, noting more entries than exits.