A Council of Ministers resolution authorises up to 590 million euros, plus VAT, for three KC-390s, electronic warfare kit and training, bought from Embraer and sold on to Greece under a government-to-government deal.
Lusa counted 17 US KC-46 refuelling tankers parked at Lajes on Saturday, up from six in September, as Washington reinforces in the Middle East. Lisbon has issued no new statement; its last word was the prime minister's on 9 October.
Repairs to the POL NATO fuel depot in Almada, which holds part of Portugal's strategic petroleum reserves, will cost up to 5.96 million euros and finish by the end of 2026, after an inspection of its underground pipelines found extra work was needed.
Three sailors who sent details of the NRP Mondego's condition to military associations in 2023 were acquitted on 21 October. The court found the material was never classified. A separate insubordination case against all 13 crew is still pending.
Two ICEYE-built radar satellites for the Atlantic Constellation, CA-03 and CA-04, launched on 20 October on a SpaceX Falcon 9. The Air Force now operates four that can image land and sea at night and through cloud.
The Air Force's UH-60 Black Hawks took part in 56 firefighting missions this year, flying more than 200 hours and making over 900 water drops. The Defence Minister expects two C-130s with firefighting kits in 2027 and Canadair water bombers in 2029 and 2030.
The Council of Ministers raised the planned cost of the Armed Forces Hospital's new surgical wing in Lisbon from 14.71 million to 20.27 million euros, with spending now running to 2029 rather than 2027. The wing should add 31 surgical beds.
