The new Viana do Castelo class

The April edition of Fuerzas Militares del Mundo publishes a 4-page detailed report regarding the new Viana do Castelo class a Portuguese project for a new Offshore Patrol Vessel.
The first ship of the class has been delivered to the Navy the late December in a ceremonny helded in the shipyards of Viana do Castelo in the North of the country.

Following months of trials and training, the ship will make its public debut and be open to visits during the Navy Day ceremony which will take place in the city of Setubal.

Before such event, Fuerzas Militares del Mundo presents an overview of the program and the capabilities of this modern ship.

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D. Francisco de Almeida frigate: 3,000 tons of strength and grace

The February edition of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha presents a report focusing the newly-received D. Francisco de Almeida frigate from the Bartolomeu Dias class. This two-ship class comprises two former 3,000-ton Dutch Karel Doorman frigates. It has replaced the João Belo class, whose the last two ships are now serving with the Uruguayan Navy.

The reports is based on a visit made on May during the Navy Day in the city of Portimão and is followed by a short report focusing the delivery of the first ship of the Viana do Castelo class, a Portuguese project for an oceanic Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV).

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Portuguese C-295M: Over the land and the sea

The January edition of Fuerzas Militares del Mundo brings a report focusing the operation of the modern Airbus Military C-295M tactical transport aircraft fleet by the Portuguese Air Force. Flying with Portuguese markings since 2008, the C-295M has already reached a total of 4,000 flying hours.

 

The report comprises detailed information regarding the tactical transport and maritime surveillance versions and the missions of the 502 Squadron which operates currently keeps two detachment in the Madeira and Azores archipelagos and the bulk of the fleet in Montijo air base.

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The new submarine Tridente

The November edition of the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha published a news focusing of the September 8th reception ceremony of the new Tridente submarine of the Portuguese Navy. Along with technical information on the new submarine class, this work analyzes the speeches made at the occasion by both the Minister of Defense, Augusto Santos Silva, and the Navy Chief of Staff, Alm. Melo Gomes. In addition, the cover of the November edition presents a photo of the Portuguese-built hydrographic ship Auriga. The ship has been photographed during the Navy Day naval review, which has taken place at Portimão in May 2010.

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Historic main battle tanks in Santa Margarida

The Portuguese magazine Motor Clássico has published on its November issue a report focusing the unique collection of main battle tanks of Santa Margarida fire range. This collection comprises all the tank models operated by the Portuguese Army since the 1940s.

Besides this, the article brings additional information concerning to the preservation of historical military vehicles in Portugal and two other collections of the Portuguese Army open to visit at Abrantes and Elvas.

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Inside the Tridente submarine

The October issue of Fuerzas Militares del Mundo brings a report onboard of the Tridente, the newly-received U-209PN submarine of Portuguese Navy.
This report includes interviews to some members of the 33-men crew as well as exclusive inside photos showing, for example, the torpedo room, kitchen or crew accomodations. Besides this, it provides details on the equipments and weapon systems of the new class of submarines which has replaced the former French-built Daphné submarines.

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Tridente: The new Portuguese submarine

On the September 8th, the new Tridente submarine from the Portuguese Navy was publicly presented during a ceremony which took place in the naval base of Alfeite, near Lisbon. The modern conventional submarine from the U-209PN model shares, in the reality, many common characteristics with the more recent U-214 project. The two new submarines ordered by Portugal in 2004 replace the French-built Albacora class, based on the Daphné model. The deliver of the second submarine, named Arpão, is scheduled for 2011.

A detailed report focusing the ceremony and this new class of submarines will be soon published by the Spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo. Meanwhile, the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha has published a short report here.

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Photographic report on Navy Day 2010

Following the May report at Portimão, when the commemorations of the Navy Day took place this year, the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha published a short report, presenting part of the photos of the report and text by António da Cruz Cordeiro.

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Navy Day of 2010

The 2010 celebrations of the Navy Day brought to the south of the country, more precisely to the city of Portmão, ships from the main classes serving in the Portuguese Navy. Among them were for, example, the newly received frigate D. Francisco de Almeida, one of the two former Dutch Karel Doorman frigates acquired by Portugal, the Vasco da Gama frigate or the Bérrio, the fleet support tanker received in the 1990s after serving in the Royal Navy as Blue Rover.

The Minister of Defence, Augusto Santos Silva, has attended May 23th military ceremony and, during his speech, Mr. Santos Silva underlined the importance of a modern and operational fleet for defending the strategic interests of the country. The modernization plan will cost 2 billion Euros, comprising, for example, the two new frigates of the Bartolomeu Dias class, the Portuguese-built Viana do Castelo offshore patrol vessels, the two Tridente submarines or a Landing Platform Dock ship which - essential for supporting amphibious operations and the deployment of military forces in foreign scenarios. According to Mr. Santos Silva, the delivery of the first Tridente submarine and the first Viana do Castelo vessel is expected for this year.

Another highlight of the event was an impressive demonstration by the ships and navy units visiting Portimão which included an amphibious landing demonstration by the marines. Some of the three deployed Super Lynx Mk 95 helicopters were armed with the recently-received 12,7mm FN Herstal M3M machine guns.

A photographic report was made for the Portuguese magazine Revista de Marinha, which can be partially seen here.

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Bravia Chaimite: The history of the first Portuguese-built armoured vehicle

A new article about the Chaimite armoured vehicle has been published, this time by Tankograd Militärfahrzeug, a leading publication in the area of military vehicles.

The article, fully published both in English and German, offers a comphreensive narrative of the history of the development, production and operation of this Portuguese-built vehicle which has been in operation for over almost forty years with Portuguese and foreign military and security forces. It also presents new developments and inedit photographs which complete the previous articles published by Motor Clássico. The magazine can be purchased online here.

How is it? The webpage Armorama reviews it as having "extensive technical and historical information on this seldom seen, but highly successful, Portuguese wheeled armoured vehicles" with "photographs which show the vehicle during development stage, manufacture, on training manoeuvres as well as out in the field in Kosovo in 1996. The more modern photographs are of a very high quality, while some of the older ones are a little rougher, but still useful never the less" (read the full review here).

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Cassiopeia: Surveilling the seas at fast speed

The February-March issue of the Revista de Marinha publishes a report of a mission onboard the NRP Cassiopeia, a fast patrol craft from the Portuguese Navy. The work covers not only the daily routine of the crew but also some extraordinary missions of the Cassiopeia, such as the scort of the Russian cruiser Moskva. Comprehensive data on this class of ships and their missions is also presented.

This ship is part of the Argos class which entered in service in 1991. Its primary mission is fishing surveillance aimed at combating illegal fishing in the Portuguese coast.

The report also signals my first collaboration with this leading-magazine in Portugal.

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Oregon Air Show 2009

Between 29th and 30th of August the airport of Hillsboro, some miles from Portland, received the Oregon Air Show 2009 which is considered the most important airshow in the west coast of United States.

The 2009 edition included the exhibition of several warbirds such as a CL-13 Mk.6 Sabre and a soviet-built MiG-17F, the USAF acrobatic team Thunderbirds with F-16 fighters, fly-by over the public of F-15 Eagle fighters from USAF and C-17 cargo aircrafts or the impressive flying display a US Navy F-18C Hornet fighter from the West Coast TACDemo Team. The photos presented here were taken in the Saturday show.

Four F-16 fighters from the USAF acrobatic team Thunderbirds fly over the public in the end of their performance.

This soviet-built MiG-17F fighter with the markings of the Polish Air Force was one of the highlights of the airshow. The Korea War veteran is still in service in some countries inclunding in Sudan, China and North Korea.

Truthly a vision from the past: a CL-13 Mk.6 Sabre fighter rolling on the runway of the Hillsboro airport after a flying display with a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F and a Fouga CM-170 Magister.

A WWII North American B-25 Mitchell bomber named Pacific Prowler was present in static display during the airshow.

A 1950s single-seat attack bomber Legacy A1 Skyraider, piloted by Alan Anders, lands at the airport after a flight along with a US Navy F-18C Hornet fighter.

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Elefantes: Operating the new C-295M tactical transport aircraft

In a visit to the Montijo air base I have visited the 502 Sqn. Elefantes, the unit of the Portuguese Air Force which is receiving the new C-295M fleet. Officially moved to the air base of Montijo, with the city of Lisbon in the background, in the begin of 2009, the Elefantes had previously operated in Sintra with the C-212 Aviocar. The unit has a long history including the operation of iconic aircraft such as the Junkers Ju-52 and the Nord Noratlas transport aircrafts.

The new Airbus Military C-295M is a medium-range transport aircraft with a payload of 9t and a capacity for up to 71 passengers. Among its users are Spain, Brazil, Colombia, Algeria, Finland, Poland, and others.

The C-295M fleet boosts the operational capabilities of the 502 Sqn. both for tactical transport, medical evacuation, logistic support, operations with paratroops, search and rescue missions and maritime surveillance. From the 12 aircrafts acquired by Portugal, 7 will be of the transport version and 5 will operated primarily in the maritime surveillance configuration equipped with the CASA FITS (Fully Integrated Tactical System). However, the characteristics of the C-295M allow that these last aircrafts can be quickly transformed for transport missions. The deliver of the first maritime surveillance aircraft is expected for the end of this year. By the end of 2010, it is expected that all the 12 ordered C-295M are already in the air base of Montijo. Meanwhile, the priority is the preparation of the crews for the operation with the new aircraft.

I would like to acknowledge to the military personal from the 502 Sqn. which received me in the unit and their explanations about the new C-295M.

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Spotting in the air base of Monte Real

Some photographs of the morning missions during a spotting session in mid-July in the air base of Monte Real. This is the home base for the F-16 fleet from the Portuguese Air Force. This year, the air base of Monte Real celebrates its 50th anniversary. Commemorations include an air show, in 22th of July, which will bring to Portugal the A-7H Coirsair from the Greek Air Force - the last operator worldwide of this historical aircraft that once operated with the Portuguese colors.

Currently, two squadrons operate the F-16 fighter in Monte Real: the 201 Sqn. "Falcões" with the F-16 OCU fleet and the 301 Sqn. "Jaguares" with the modernized F-16 MLU. The OCU cells, received by 1994, are now starting a modernization programme which will bring the entire fleet up to the MLU variant.

A F-16BM fighter from 301 Sqn. arrives from a mission in the Portuguese skies. Notice that the pilot is using the new JHMCS (Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System) and the aircraft is equipped with a Litening AT (Advanced Targeting) targeting pod. The operation of the Litening AT started in 2009 and it has been already used in the international military exercise Real Thaw.

The older but still trustable F-16B from the 201 Sqn. which has an important operational background with a dettachment in the Balkan war in the 1990s and the participation in the well-known Red Flag exercise from the US Air Force.

A Portuguese F-16 fighter from 201 Sqn. in a fly-by above the air base of Monte Real minutes before landing.

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Coimbra Air Show 2009

As it has been hapenning every year (you can also check the reports for the 2007 and 2008 editions), the Bissaya Barreto airfield in the city of Coimbra has received a new edition of the Coimbra Air Show.
The airshow took place between 11th and 12th of July including the performances of the Smoke Wings civilian acrobatic team which flies two soviet-build Yakovlev Yak-52 and the military acrobatic team Asas de Portugal from the Portuguese Air Force equipped with two Alpha-Jet A. Civilian aircrafts as well as a rare operational Dornier Do-27 of the Air Force museum also participated in the airshow.

The impressive demonstration of the Asas de Portugal, here flying their two Alpha-Jet A in a close formation and at high speed.

One of the two soviet-build Yakovlev Yak-52 from the Smoke Wings civilian acrobatic team. The portuguese pilots pushed their aicrafts to the limits and impressed the public.

Close view of the impressive the soviet-build Yakovlev Yak-52. Originally, this aircraft was developed as a trainer. A classic aircraft in an air show whith a recent tradition.

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Monte Real: Home of the Portuguese F-16 fleet

The May and June issues of the Spanish magazine War Heat have published the first and second part of an article which I wrote together with Juan Carlos Pando (you can also visit his webpage) about the Portuguese F-16 fleet.

The article covers the history of the air base of Monte Real, where the two F-16 squadrons of the Portuguese Air Force are located, as well as the operational life of the Fighting Falcon with Portuguese colors. The MLU programme as well as new equipments, weapon systems and international exercises are also mentioned in this article.

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Gazela, Leopardo and Pantera: The history of the familiy of Portuguese military trucks (2)

The June issue of the Portuguese magazine Motor Clássico brings the second part of the work covering the history of the Portuguese family of military trucks. This family of vehicles, developed by the same company which produced the Chaimite armoured vehicle, included the Gazela, Leopardo and Pantera trucks.

This second part covers the operation of the Gazela and Leopardo in the Portuguese Army, the adaptation of some vehicles for fireman corporations or the heavy Pantera truck. Besides, this article includes an one-page summary with new findings about the history of the Chaimite Portuguese-built armoured vehicle. Those include, for example, the interest of Brazil on the vehicle and tests in this country, the operational deployment in Africa with Portuguese forces and the operation by Lebanon with updated information of the recent modernization of the local fleet.

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EHM: The Portuguese Naval Aviation

The May issue of the Spanish magazine Fuerzas Militares del Mundo published a new article focusing the Esquadrilha de Helicópteros da Marinha (EHM, Navy Helicopter Squadron).

This new work brings updated information about the EHM, namely the future of the fleet, new detachments for the new Bartolomeu Dias frigates or the recent deployment with the Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1) which is conducting an anti-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia. Moreover, it covers technical aspects such as the new equipments and weapons systems for the Super Lynx fleet.

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Report: Portuguese Navy receives its first Karel Dorman frigate

The Brazilian defence website Defesa Net has published a report about the arrival to Lisbon of the first of the two frigates from the Karel Dorman class acquired by Portugal to The Netherlands in 2006 in a EUR260 million deal. The ship named Bartolomeu Dias has similar capabilities to the Vasco da Gama class (Meko 200PN) currently in service and it will replace the frigates from the former João Belo class, which was sold to Uuruguay (check here the previous article). The second ship, renamed Francisco de Almeida (F334), will be transferred on November of 2009.
The Karel Doorman class is composed by eight 2,800t multi-purpose frigates, originally operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy. Today the eight ships built during the 1990s are operated by The Netherlands, Belgium, Chile and Portugal.

Bartolomeu Dias multi-purpose frigate (F333) has arrived to the Portuguese capital this Thursday, April 30th, after months of sea trials and crew trainning (Photo: Portuguese Navy).

You can check the full report in Portuguese on the following link:
http://www.defesanet.com.br/nato/pt_fragatas.htm

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Gazela, Leopardo and Pantera: The history of the familiy of Portuguese military trucks (1)

On its May issue, the Portuguese magazine Motor Clássico publishes the first part of a work covering the history of the Portuguese family of military trucks. This family of vehicles, developed by the same company which produced the Chaimite armoured vehicle, included the Gazela, Leopardo and Pantera trucks.

The work is partially based on some interviews and documents from the Chaimite research project.
The first part of the article covers the origin of this family of vehicles, the development of their projects as well as the beginning of production of the Gazela and Leopardo trucks which were later deployed by the Portuguese military on operations in Africa. The May issue also covers the projects of the Comando Mk I light vehicle and Tigre Mk II and Comando Mk III armoured vehicles with new material, informations and photos.

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