Portugal’s Naval Revolution: The Productivity of Drone Carriers and Autonomous Maritime Systems
The theatre of modern warfare is shifting from traditional manned fleets to autonomous, multi-domain ecosystems. Leading this charge is Portugal with the NRP D. João II, scheduled for delivery in late 2026. This "Multifunctional Naval Platform" (MNP) redefines naval productivity by combining maritime surveillance, undersea cable protection, and scientific research into a single, modular hull.
Productivity Through Modality The true innovation of the D. João II lies in its modular mission kits. Utilising 18 containerised modules, the vessel can transition from a combat-ready drone hub to a disaster-relief hospital or an oceanographic laboratory within just seven days. This "plug-and-play" architecture ensures the Portuguese Navy avoids the "single-mission" trap of traditional $13B aircraft carriers.
Defending the "Silent Front": Undersea Infrastructure With the largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the EU, Portugal is using the D. João II to counter hybrid threats. Equipped with Uncrewed Undersea Vehicles (UUVs) capable of reaching depths of 6,000 metres, the ship provides persistent monitoring of critical subsea data cables—a vital asset as Russian and other foreign naval activity increases in the Atlantic.
Local Innovation & Global Impact Portugal has transformed into a "field laboratory" for NATO. The upcoming OPEX 2026 and the annual REPMUS exercises in Tróia allow Portuguese firms like Tekever (recently selected to support UK Apache missions) and UAVISION to test swarm AI and autonomous logistics in real-world conditions.
Read the full technical breakdown on the official Portuguese Navy Innovation Portal.
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