Portugal to Participate as "Observer" in European Sixth Generation Fighter Jet Programs

Portugal has officially announced it will participate as an observer in one of Europe’s sixth-generation fighter jet programs, signaling a sharp turn toward European defense cooperation and away from U.S. systems like the F-35.

“This will cost Portugal nothing,” said Defense Minister Nuno Melo. “We will not spend a single euro to participate as an observer in one of the sixth-generation fighter jet development projects. We will observe how this aircraft is developed and be involved from the very beginning, providing invaluable knowledge and a positioning at the European level.”

Two competing programs are shaping Europe’s next-generation airpower:

• Future Combat Air System (FCAS), led by France, Germany, and Spain, with Dassault Aviation, Airbus, and Indra as industry leaders. FCAS includes a manned fighter, drones, and a digital combat cloud and is projected to enter service around 2040.
• Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), led by the U.K., Italy, and Japan, unites the U.K.'s Tempest and Japan’s F-X efforts. Major industry players include BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Rolls-Royce, and MBDA. It targets operational readiness by 2035.

Though Portugal hasn’t confirmed which program it will observe, defense sources indicate strong leaning toward GCAP, citing Portugal’s industrial ties with the U.K. and Italy.

The observer role grants Portugal access to early-stage technical and doctrinal developments, positioning Lisbon close to the next generation of military aviation without committing funds or industrial output.

This move comes as Portugal distances itself from the American-made F-35, underscoring a broader policy shift toward European defense autonomy and closer integration with regional allies.

By securing a front-row seat in Europe’s most ambitious airpower programs, Portugal is positioning itself for long-term relevance in shaping European and transatlantic security architectures.