Airbus pitches Eurofighter to Portugal as best replacement for F-16 jets

Airbus plans to submit an unsolicited proposal to Portugal in late October or early November 2026 for Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to replace the Portuguese Air Force’s 28 upgraded F-16M fighters. Portugal has not yet launched a formal tender, while the Typhoon is expected to compete with Lockheed Martin’s F-35, Dassault Aviation’s Rafale and Saab’s Gripen E. Airbus said its offer would combine public and private financing with industrial participation and military cooperation. The company argues that the Eurofighter better matches Portugal’s air-policing, NATO quick-reaction alert and national airspace and maritime-protection missions than a stealth aircraft optimized for deep-strike operations.