“Command and control will be improved differently on both classes of ships. The main differences will be on sensors and weaponry. The Bartolomeu Dias will be better able to perform anti-air and anti-submarine warfare.”
According to Ribeiro, the five Lynx helicopters will be upgraded. “The engines are going to be new, and the communications and navigation systems will be changed in order to extend their life of operation.”
Two new Viana do Castelo-class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) have recently been built in Portugal. “We commissioned the new ships two years ago. We’ve been testing them, and have learned some lessons, but they are performing quite well. We are going to build six more ships over the next two years.”
The Portuguese navy also intends to acquire an LPD (landing platform dock) of about 10,000 tons sometime beyond 2020.
The OPVs have an overall length of 273 feet (83 meters), a displacement of 1,800 tons, and a maximum continuous speed of 20 knots. They have an endurance of 14 days at 15 knots, a crew of five officers, eight petty officers, and 25 rankings and extra accommodation for 29 persons. “These are the ships we are using in Frontex and in North Atlantic fisheries operations.”
In addition, Ribeiro says Portugal has acquired two STANFLEX patrol boats from Denmark.
A Portuguese Navy MK 95 Lynx helicopter provides security while its visit, board, search and seizure team conducts an inspection aboard the Military Sealift Command container and roll-on/roll-off ship USNS LCPL Roy H. Wheat (T-AK 3016) during the at-sea portion of exercise Phoenix Express 2010 (PE 10). The Portuguese navy will also be modernizing its five Lynx helicopters, upgrading their communications and navigation and putting in new engines. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jimmy C. Pan
The ex-Danish navy Flyvefisken-class ships are being overhauled in Portugal at the Alfeite naval shipyard. “We expect to have the first one operational this year,” Ribeiro says.
They have an overall length of 177 feet (54 meters); speed of 28 knots; and a crew of three officers, four petty officers, and 16 rankings, and extra accommodation of 10 persons. “They will be operating mainly on coastal activities,” Ribeiro says.
Ribeiro says the Marinha also has to replace its oiler. It plans to procure a new replenishment ship with an overall length of 140 meters, and around 11,000 tons in 2021.
The Marinha has three old patrol boats, and a buoy tender that is actually being used as a patrol boat, which operate from Madeira and from the Portuguese mainland, primarily performing coast guard missions.
The Portuguese navy also intends to acquire an LPD (landing platform dock) of about 10,000 tons sometime beyond 2020. “We don’t have this capability in the Portuguese navy,” Ribeiro says. “We have two options – buy a used one, or build a new one.”
The LPD will have three main functions. “Our marines have been operating with the Spanish, British and U.S. Marines, but without a proper naval vessel. What we intend to do is to have this capability in order to be able to project them to scenarios where we have interests and where we are supporting a coalition. Portugal, due to its history, is a country with very strong security concerns in Africa. As you probably know, we have hundreds of thousands of Portuguese living in Africa, in Angola and Mozambique, and Guinea Bissau. It’s difficult to have an alliance committed to this type of environment. There are not always multinational solutions, so we may have to work alone in response to contingencies. So we need this type of ship for evaluating citizens or other contingencies. The second purpose is for military cooperation with African countries. We need to go there, stay there in a stable way for some time, and provide training. This type of ship is very good to do this type of work. And we have the Azores, which frequently has very severe earthquakes, and we need these ships with medical capabilities in order to be prepared to help the populations of the Azores whenever they have earthquakes. The navy has always committed ships to these tasks, but we haven’t always had the proper capabilities, and this LPD will enable us to do that,” Ribeiro says.
Ribeiro says the Marinha also has to replace its oiler. It plans to procure a new replenishment ship with an overall length of 140 meters, and around 11,000 tons in 2021.
Between its modernization program, new construction, and planned new projects, Ribeiro says the Marinha will continue to meet its dual roles as Portugal’s navy and coast guard, and its balanced fleet will help Portugal meet its national security and international commitments. And it will continue to do this in an austere budgetary environment. “Our main effort is explaining our politicians and our citizens the utility and the necessity of having a reasonably-prepared navy to accomplish the tasks the country needs in what concerns our areas of responsibility and in what concerns our foreign policies,” he says.