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In recent months, the Portuguese Navy has been ordering ships of various types in order to upgrade its naval personnel.
In December 2023, the Dutch company Damen announced the signing of a contract with the Portuguese Navy for the design, construction and equipping of a new type of ship called the multifunctional naval platform (PNM), which is formally classified as a civilian vessel.
The ship with a displacement of 7 thousand tons and a cost of € 132 million was named D. João II. It will not carry any weapons, but will be equipped with helicopters and drones (air, surface and underwater), as stated, for research purposes. The crew consists of 48 sailors, 42 more researchers or operators of unmanned systems can be on board, and there is also space for temporary accommodation of up to 100 people.
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Helicopter carrier D. João II
At the end of December 2023, the Portuguese Navy ordered the construction of six ocean patrol ships (Navios da Patrulha Oceânicos, NPO) with anti-submarine capabilities for €299.7 million. The work will be carried out at the shipyard of the local company Martifer. Their delivery is expected in the period from 2027 to 2030. The small cost is noteworthy, less than €50 million per ship. The new six ships, the details of which are not disclosed, will be added to the 4 already delivered NPOs.
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Patrol ship NPO PLO
Recently, the concept of the new PXX patrol boat was presented, which is being developed in the interests of the Portuguese Navy and optimized to work with unmanned systems. VNSD, the company responsible for its creation, announced a "new breakthrough concept for a uniquely designed coastal patrol boat."
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Boat PXX
It has a trimaran design, which assumes a very limited displacement, and has a take-off and landing deck, and also has shutters on the stern and sides, which suggests the presence of compartments for accommodating marine UAVs.