Rome/Lisbon — Portugal has finalized a €3.9 billion state-to-state agreement with Italy for the acquisition of three FREMM EVO multi-mission frigates, marking one of the country's largest naval procurement programmes in recent years. The agreement was signed on July 20, 2026, at the Army Palace in Rome during a visit by Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and was overseen by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The contract assigns Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri to construct the three frigates, with deliveries to the Portuguese Navy scheduled between 2029 and 2030. Portugal will also become the first export customer for the FREMM EVO variant.
Procurement Through EU SAFE Programme
The €3.9 billion acquisition represents approximately 67.2% of Portugal's €5.8 billion allocation under the European Union's Security Action for Europe (SAFE) financing instrument. The SAFE programme is designed to accelerate defence procurement while strengthening Europe's defence industrial base.
Rather than a conventional commercial shipbuilding contract, the programme has been structured as a government-to-government agreement. The contract is managed through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), while industrial execution will be carried out by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, a joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo.
According to the available information, Italy's proposal was selected over competing offers, including Naval Group's FDI and Navantia's F-110, primarily because Fincantieri was able to meet the delivery schedule required under the SAFE programme.
FREMM EVO Specifications
The FREMM EVO is an advanced version of the European multi-purpose frigate and incorporates updated propulsion, combat management, radar, and anti-submarine warfare systems.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 144 metres |
| Displacement | 6,500–6,700 tonnes |
| Propulsion | CODLAG (Combined Diesel-Electric and Gas) |
| Gas Turbine | 32 MW General Electric LM2500+ |
| Maximum Speed | More than 27 knots |
| Range | 6,000 nautical miles at 15 knots |
| Endurance | Up to 45 days |
The CODLAG propulsion system combines a gas turbine with electric propulsion. According to the available information, this configuration reduces machinery noise transmitted through the hull during anti-submarine operations, lowering the vessel's acoustic signature.
Combat Systems and Sensors
The frigates will be equipped with the cyber-resilient SADOC 4 combat management system.
Their sensor suite includes dual-band active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars operating in both C-band and X-band. The C-band radar is designed for wide-area surveillance, while the X-band radar provides high-resolution tracking of smaller and faster targets, including low-altitude cruise missiles.
For anti-submarine warfare, each vessel will carry a multi-layer sonar suite consisting of:
- Hull-mounted sonar
- Variable-depth sonar
- Towed-array sonar
The ships will also integrate dedicated anti-drone radar and counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) capabilities.
Fleet Modernisation
The three FREMM EVO frigates will replace ageing vessels within the Portuguese Navy's five-frigate fleet.
The Vasco da Gama (MEKO 200) and Bartolomeu Dias (Karel Doorman) class frigates, originally designed in the early 1990s, are approaching the end of their service lives. The new ships form part of Portugal's broader naval modernisation programme.
The programme also includes the planned 2027 delivery of the NRP D. João II, a 7,000-tonne multipurpose drone carrier currently under construction by Damen in Romania.
Long-Term Support Package
Beyond construction of the vessels, the agreement includes a comprehensive 30-year operational support package covering:
- Logistical sustainment
- Spare parts integration
- Crew preparation and training programmes
- Technology transfer to Portuguese defence industries
- Infrastructure upgrades at the Arsenal do Alfeite near Lisbon
The infrastructure improvements are intended to support domestic maintenance of the frigates through the 2050s.
Production Schedule
To meet the delivery timeline required under the SAFE programme, Fincantieri will begin construction of the Portuguese frigates after completing two FREMM EVO ships currently being built for the Italian Navy.
Deliveries to Portugal are scheduled to take place between 2029 and 2030.
Source : navalnews
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