Portugal Joins European Defence Agency Meeting to Shape Future Combat Frigates

Portugal Engages in Collaborative European Frigate Development

Portugal has actively participated in a significant meeting hosted by the European Defence Agency (EDA) on January 15, 2026, focusing on the conceptualization and development of a new generation of European Combat Vessel frigates. This collaborative effort brings together seven European Union member states and leading shipbuilders to define the future of naval power within the bloc.

The meeting, which included representatives from Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Portugal, follows a letter of intent signed in late 2024. The primary objective is to address the challenges faced by European navies, including aging fleets and outdated technologies, by developing advanced frigates ready for service in the 2040s.

Vision for the European Combat Vessel

The proposed European Combat Vessel is not envisioned as a single ship design but rather as a family of vessels that will share common technologies while allowing for variations in size and configuration to meet specific national and mission requirements. These future frigates are designed to tackle a broad spectrum of naval shortfalls, encompassing:

• Underwater and seabed control
• Cyber defense
• Missile defense
• Operations involving unmanned and autonomous systems

Spanish naval representative Luis Calviño underscored the necessity of a 'real commitment from European partners' for the success of this project, emphasizing that it is 'not realistic to think that a single nation can develop this.' Jürgen Scraback, head of the EDA's Maritime Domain Unit, highlighted that the initiative aims to strengthen Europe's maritime security and autonomy, ensuring alignment with NATO standards and targets.

Portugal's Strategic Naval Modernization

Portugal's participation in this initiative aligns with its broader strategic efforts to modernize its naval forces. The country is currently in the process of replacing its aging fleet of five frigates, which have been in service for over 30 years and face increasing maintenance costs and performance issues.

In a related development, Portugal recently selected Italian FREMM EVO frigates from Fincantieri for an acquisition valued at approximately three billion euros for three vessels. This investment is part of a larger €5.8 billion increase in Portugal's defense spending, partially financed through the European SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program. The first of these newly acquired frigates is anticipated to arrive around 2029.

Strengthening European Defence Cooperation

The collaborative development of the European Combat Vessel frigates underscores a growing commitment among EU member states to enhance collective defense capabilities and foster industrial cooperation. By pooling resources and expertise, participating nations like Portugal aim to achieve greater naval interoperability and strategic autonomy, ensuring their ability to respond effectively to evolving maritime security challenges in the coming decades. This initiative builds upon earlier European naval collaborations, such as the European Patrol Corvette (EPC) project, in which Portugal participates as an observer.