The Multifunctional Naval Platform of the Portuguese Navy is projected to carry a variety of unmanned systems such as UAVs (fixed-wing and rotary-wing), USVs, and UUVs alongside helicopters and boats. Damen Shipyards Group will design, construct and outfit the vessel. The shipyard has developed a 107-metre long Multi-Purpose Vessel according to the requirements of the Portuguese Navy.
The ship’s design can be observed to emphasise hangar capacity to maximize the platforms carried heavily. In addition to a large hangar capacity, the ship has a ramp-ended runway for the operation of fixed-wing UAVs. A MALE-class UAV was placed on the runway of an earlier illustration. Meanwhile, there have been no statements on which fixed-wing UAVs will be used; possible candidates include Turkish Bayraktar TB3 and American Mojave.
A naval platform capable of carrying various unmanned vehicles can be configured for missions like patrol, ASW, ASuW, ISR, and mine countermeasures. Unmanned systems being highly modular regarding payloads further reinforces this advantage.
Portuguese Navy to Sign Deal for Multifunctional Naval Platform
