As part of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), it was published in the Diário da República and in the Official Journal of the European Union, the Portuguese Navy launched this month, the limited tender by prior qualification, for the design and construction of a multifunctional naval platform.
This multipurpose naval platform will contribute, among other tasks, to the protection of marine resources and the Portuguese sea, through the prevention and surveillance of ocean pollution and maritime accidents, deterrence of illegal and irregular activities, monitoring of climate change and atmospheric events, as well as in humanitarian support.
This ship, conceived under a new concept of operation, will represent a major investment in innovation through the use of new technology, high-performance digital systems, Big Data, Digital Twin, and Artificial Intelligence, using airborne, surface, and subsurface robotic/unmanned systems, as well as for studies and tests for new means and new concepts, developed by academia and industry.
A technologically advanced Navy contributes to the country’s economic development and acceleration of change.
The mothership is shown with two notional fixed wing UAVs on deck (they look like MQ-1C Grey Eagle but the new MQ-9B STOL may be a better fit) as well as 6 quadcopter UAVs and one NH90 helicopter. The design seems to lack an aviation hangar. Below decks is a modular area to launch and recover AUV, UUV and USV. Portuguese Navy image.
The fixed wing UAVs are launched via a ski jump
Images: Portuguese Navy
Source: Naval News