Photograph: Portuguese Army
The event brought together political decision-makers, representatives of the Armed Forces, national companies, and major international manufacturers, reinforcing Portugal’s commitment to defence modernisation and the development of the national industry.
The Land Defence Industry Day, organised by the Portuguese Army in association with idD Portugal Defence and other entities, took place on 31 March at the Serra do Pilar Barracks in Vila Nova de Gaia, with the aim of strengthening cooperation between National Defence, the Portuguese industry and major international military platform manufacturers. The event highlighted the capabilities of the national industry in the fields of Land Vehicles and Unmanned Systems, reinforcing Portugal’s commitment to the modernisation of the Armed Forces and the development of the defence sector.
Modernisation of the Armed Forces and Opportunities for the National Industry
In the opening session, the Chief of Staff of the Army (CEME), General Mendes Ferrão, underlined the Army’s focus on the modernisation process, aligned with allies and Portugal’s international commitments. He also emphasised the opportunities the Army offers to the national industry, stating that modernisation is essential to ensure an Army capable of defending Euro-Atlantic territory alongside its partners, establishing itself as a strategic force.
Government’s Commitment to National Defence and Security
The Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, reaffirmed Portugal’s commitment to national defence and security, stressing the importance of sustained investment in the sector as a way to protect democratic values and citizens’ well-being. He also emphasised the valorisation of human capital in the Armed Forces and the need to strengthen the European Union’s strategic autonomy as priorities for a strong and credible defence.
Defence as a Driver of Economic Growth
The Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, advocated attracting foreign investment and creating business consortia as strategic pillars to position Portugal as a relevant player in the international defence market. Cooperation between the public and private sectors, as well as between the Ministries of Defence and Economy, was highlighted as fundamental to foster innovation and competitiveness in the national industry.
Challenges and Opportunities for the National Industry
The Chairman of the Board of idD Portugal Defence, Ricardo Pinheiro Alves, stressed the importance of initiatives like the Land Defence Industry Day in bringing the Armed Forces closer to the national industry. idD aims to make these working sessions a regular practice, involving all branches of the Armed Forces and other strategic development areas.
Among the main challenges identified were the need to:
transform research and innovation into production,
create business consortia,
integrate the supply chains of major international manufacturers, and
achieve global scale in equipment production and export.
At the same time, several opportunities were highlighted:
defence as a political priority,
involvement of international organisations opening doors to new forms of cooperation, and
the potential for major international manufacturers to become clients of the Portuguese industry.
Defence Industry as a Strategic Pillar
The Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo, highlighted the role of the defence industry as a strategic pillar for the development of the Armed Forces and the national economy. Currently, 1.6% of Portugal’s GDP is associated with defence-related industries. He stressed the importance of creating an environment conducive to attracting investment, from traditional to highly innovative areas.
The Minister also stated that the involvement of the Armed Forces is essential for investment in the defence sector. He pointed out the long-term effects of the neglect of the defence area, noting that between 2015 and 2024, over 5,000 service members left active duty, reducing the national force to around 22,000 personnel, when 30,000 are needed to fulfil Portugal’s international commitments.
Therefore, he advocated that dignifying the Armed Forces must begin with valuing human resources. He also stressed that Portugal must strengthen the European pillar in NATO and invest more in the production and procurement of equipment in Europe, contributing to the EU’s strategic autonomy in the defence sector.
Thematic Panels
The Land Defence Industry Day programme included three thematic panels, promoting dialogue between national companies and major international manufacturers, focused on the main axes for developing the technological and industrial defence base:
Land Vehicles and Defence Systems – Moderated by aicep Portugal Global, this panel highlighted national industry competencies and solutions, with participation from Beyondcomposite – Composite Engineering Solutions, Lda, A. Silva Matos, OPTIMAL DEFENCE, and Promocel.
Land Systems and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) – Moderated by AED Cluster Portugal, this panel brought together representatives of leading international manufacturers, including Rheinmetall, UROVESA, and General Dynamics European Land Systems, fostering the exchange of experiences and cooperation perspectives with the Portuguese industry.
Unmanned Systems and OEM – Moderated by IAPMEI – Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation, this panel focused on emerging technologies and the contribution of Portuguese companies in this domain, featuring interventions from TEKEVER, Beyond Vision, Atlos, and UAVision.
Photographs: Portuguese Army and idD Portugal Defence
