Rome, 20 July 2026 – The Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo, and the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa, were present at the signing ceremony of the bilateral agreement, at the Army Palace in Rome. This programme is part of the modernization process of the Portuguese Navy and Armed Forces to adapt to the new geopolitical reality and threats.
The delivery of the three new ships to the Portuguese Navy will take place between 2029 and 2030.
The Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo, went to Rome as part of the delegation of the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, which also included the Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel. Minister Nuno Melo and the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa, participated in a bilateral meeting with their Italian counterpart, Guido Crosetto, and were present at the signing ceremony of the State-to-State agreement, within the framework of SAFE, which provides for the acquisition of three state-of-the-art frigates, their maintenance, technology transfer, and other conditions necessary for the operational exploitation of the ships throughout their life cycle, which is no less than 30 years. The document was signed by the Deputy Director-General of Armament, Rear Admiral Antonio Mateus, at the Army Palace in the Italian capital.
This programme is part of the modernization process of the Portuguese Navy and Armed Forces to adapt to the new geopolitical reality and threats, with a view to fulfilling missions in our waters, in international defence and collective security commitments, and providing permanent support to the population.
This investment in surface ocean warfare and anti-submarine warfare also foresees cooperation with the defence industries, with strong incorporation of national companies, technology transfer, the revitalization of the Alfeite Arsenal, as well as a significant return for the national economy.
The decision represents a significant portion of the SAFE investment (5.8 billion Euros). SAFE investments represent the largest effort in the re-equipment of the Armed Forces in a democracy, encompassing all domains: naval, land, air – including drones – and space. The delivery of the three new ships to the Portuguese Navy will take place between 2029 and 2030.
Photos courtesy OCCAR
