Dassault Aviation is competing with Airbus to replace the Portuguese Air Force’s F-16 fleet. The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with AED Cluster Portugal, the country’s aerospace and defense industry association, to explore opportunities for cooperation. The agreement supports Dassault’s bid to sell its Rafale fighter to Portugal.
The contest between Dassault’s Rafale and Airbus’s Eurofighter Typhoon is intensifying. Both manufacturers are seeking industrial partnerships in Portugal to strengthen their proposals.
The Portuguese government has not yet issued a formal tender to replace the F-16s.