Portugal’s geographical position is far from the world’s current trouble spots, yet it
retains a credible air force, prepared for any threat, as José Matos reveals.
FORCE REPORT Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese Air Force maintains a pair of F-16AMs on quick reaction alert (QRA) at Monte Real and the fighters have participated in Baltic Air Policing.
Bartek Bera
CELEBRATING ITS 65th anniversary in 2017, the primary tasks of today’s Força Aérea Portuguesa (FAP; Portuguese Air Force) include maintaining air superiority in areas vital to national defence, controlling the country’s airspace, defending national territory against air attack, destroying or suppressing enemy forces, operating in support of ground and naval forces, providing air transport, search and rescue, fisheries patrol and supporting international missions.
