Não conheço o website e temos de ter cuidado por isso.
Portugal's navy eyes new South Korean submarines to strengthen coastal patrol capabilities2026-01-19 18:18
According to OPEX360 , at the International Maritime Defense Industry Exhibition (MADEX) 2025, held from May 28 to 31 in BEXCO, Korea Trade, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HDHHI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Portuguese Navy aimed at establishing a strategy for naval ship construction, maintenance, repair and cross-model shipbuilding, and timely establishment of a model and its model, as well as MRO (MRO). The agreement was formalized on May 30 at the HD HHI booth at BEXCO and reflects Portugal's recurring availability issues in the existing Tridente-class fleet, with the need to seek other subsea capabilities.
The Portuguese Navy currently operates two Tridente-class submarines, the NRP Tridente and NRP Arpão, based on the German Type 214 platform and equipped with fuel-battery AIP propulsion, ISUS 90 combat system, KH-1007 Navigation Radar and 533 mm torpedo-launched sub-class Homer-type carriers. These submarines were commissioned in 2010 to replace the Arpão class and form the core of Portugal's undersea warfare capabilities. However, operational availability has declined in recent years. NRP Tridente has been undergoing a major overhaul since 2022, while in March 2025, impurities found in the hydraulic system of the Arpão temporarily left the Portuguese Navy without any operational submarines. These constraints, combined with concerns about Russian naval activities off the Portuguese coast and in the Mediterranean, have led the Portuguese Navy to consider purchasing a third submarine of similar tonnage or two smaller submarines in the 800 to 1,300 ton range.
In response to these developments, the head of the Portuguese Navy, Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa, indicated that there is a preference for smaller units. This approach was reiterated during the engagement at Madex 2025, where Admiral Fernando Pires, head of the Portuguese Navy's Logistics Command, signed a memorandum of understanding with Ju won-ho, head of HD HHI's Special Ships Division. The agreement does not specify a final design, but refers to the joint development of a small submarine model based on mutual trust and strategic cooperation. HD HHI is currently developing three submarine models for export: the HDS-2300, HDS-1500 and HDS-800. All three models were presented at Madex 2025. The HDS-2300 is the largest, intended for blue-water operations, and has received approval in principle (AIP) from DNV. The HDS-1500, developed in cooperation with Peru's Sima, is 65 meters long and 6.5 meters wide, has lithium-ion battery propulsion, requires a crew of 25, and has also received AIP certification from DNV. The HDS-800 is the smallest variant, intended for coastal operations. It is expected to provide a compact and low-cost option for navies with coastal security requirements.
Although Portugal has not officially confirmed a specific model, the Portuguese Navy may consider leveraging the work being done on the HDS-1500, especially given that displacement, propulsion configuration, and crew size align with the needs expressed in recent public statements. The HDS-1500's open architecture design allows for the integration of country-specific combat systems, sensors, and weapons, providing a potential adaptable solution. The agreement signed at Madex reflects not only Portugal's intent to strengthen its submarine fleet, but also HD HHI's strategy to promote its submarine designs in global markets through co-development and export-oriented customization. Portugal's current Tridente-class submarines, the NRP Tridente and NRP Arpão, displace more than 2,000 tons, have a maximum testing depth of more than 300 meters, and an endurance of approximately 60 days. However, maintenance challenges limit their availability for sustained deployments.
Já agora li que os Coreanos estão a negociar estaleiros em... Marrocos.
