Portugal revamps weapon project
Victor Barreira JDW Correspondent
Lisbon
The Portuguese Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to again launch its procurement process for 26,900 5.56 mm assault rifles, 1,600 5.56 mm light machine guns and 4,100 9 mm pistols for the army, air force and navy.
It combines two programmes; the first, an acquisition programme for an undisclosed number of rifles, guns and pistols, was included in the weapon systems procurement programme (Lei de Programação Militar, LPM), which was approved in June 2006.
It was to be managed by the Portuguese MoD procurement agency Direcção Geral de Armamento e Equipamentos de Defesa (DGAED) and was planned to integrate officers from the three Portuguese armed forces branches along with officers from the DGAED agency. This team will support the DGAED in defining technical and operational parameters and weapon evaluations.
During the previous procurement, the MoD selected the G36 5.56 mm assault rifle from Heckler & Koch of Germany. However, following an adverse court decision on the delayed Programa de Aquisição de Armas Ligeiras procurement programme for the acquisition of 33,500 light weapons and associated accessories (31,000 assault rifles, 1, 700 light machine guns and 6,800 pistols) for the Portuguese armed forces, launched by the MoD in December 2004, the MoD cancelled the procurement and will now relaunch the entire process. Portugal's army, navy and air force have been equipped since the 1960s with the 7.62 mm G3A3 assault rifle; the 7.62 mm HK 21A1 light machine gun built in Portugal by the now defunct INDEP-Indústrias de Defesa SA under licence from Heckler & Koch; the 7.62 mm MG 42-59 and MG3 machine guns; and the Walther P38 and PP 9 mm pistols.
The models selected in the new programme will replace these weapons as well the SG 543 5.56 mm assault weapon and ARM assault rifles.
Bids are expected from Steyr Mannlicher, Heckler & Koch, FN Herstal, SAN Swiss Arms, Israel Weapon Industries, Fabbrica d'Armi Pietro Beretta among others.
The acquisition of light weapons for the Portuguese armed forces began in the 1990s. Portuguese Army Chief of Staff General Pinto Ramalho recently said it is now top priority for the army's modernisation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2008 Jane's Information Group
