In April 2026, the European Commission approved €1.07 billion for global funding. Portuguese companies, universities, and the Navy secured a significant share for military capabilities and technological research.

Portugal leads a project coordinated by INESC TEC on disruptive technologies for protecting underwater infrastructure. This area is vital for securing data and energy cables in the Atlantic.

National involvement extends to technological frontier domains, notably through participation in a consortium led by Airbus to develop a constellation of surveillance and space reconnaissance satellites.

Portugal is also present in projects to modernise land systems, such as armoured vehicles and new electromagnetic mortar launchers, as well as innovations in advanced textiles for camouflage.

For these 16 projects, up to €421.1 million of the planned €500 million could be provided by the European Union. In some cases, this covers the entire development cost.

Brussels' strategy, which aims to fulfil the defence roadmap until 2030, prioritises strengthening the eastern flank and creating a European air shield, giving a central role to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).

In Portugal, this model is reflected in the composition of the 634 entities involved at the European level, where SMEs account for more than 38% of participants.

With the conclusion of the financing agreements expected by the end of this year, the EDF investment consolidates Defence as an engine of industrial innovation and international cooperation, responding to the context of increasing geopolitical instability that marks the European landscape in 2026.