The Portuguese Navy (Marinha Portuguesa) has taken a significant step toward extending the service life of its Vasco da Gama (MEKO 200PN)-class multi-purpose frigates through to 2035. On April 25, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) published a request for proposals (RFP) aimed at implementing further upgrades on up to two ships. This move is part of the Portuguese Navy’s ‘mid-life modernisation of frigate’ project, which was formally authorized in 2022 by the Ministry of National Defence with a budget of up to EUR120 million (USD136 million), as outlined in the Military Programming Law 2023–2034. Managed under several separate contracts, the project focuses primarily on overhauling the ships and modernizing their systems. Several upgrades have already been installed. Companies interested in carrying out the mid-life upgrade (MLU) of NRP Álvares Cabral (F 331) and NRP Corte-Real (F 332) have until June 24 to submit their proposals. The RFP specifies modifications to one frigate between 2026 and 2028 at the Portuguese state-owned shipyard Arsenal do Alfeite, with an option for a second unit.
The Vasco da Gama class represents a group of frigates within the Portuguese Navy, named in honor of the renowned Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama. These ships are based on the German MEKO 200 design and stand as Portugal’s primary surface vessels. Portugal operates three ships of this class, constructed in Hamburg by Blohm + Voss (B&V) and Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel using modular construction techniques. The project for constructing these three frigates received authorization from the Portuguese Government in 1985, five years after the Portuguese Navy requested new surface ships. According to Conway’s, 60% of the funding for these ships came from NATO military aid. Similar ships have been built for the navies of Greece, Turkey, Australia, and New Zealand.
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) serves as NATO’s principal organization for multinational Acquisition, Support, and Sustainment across all domains. Established in 1958, NSPA connects industrial capabilities with national requirements to provide efficient, effective, and responsive solutions for both national and collective defense, leveraging cutting-edge technology and achieving economies of scale, interoperability, and commonality. NSPA’s headquarters is located in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, with major operational centers in France, Hungary, Italy, and The Netherlands. The agency employs over 1,500 staff members and oversees more than 100 contractors worldwide.
NSPA reports directly to the North Atlantic Council. Under the leadership of a General Manager, the agency acts as the executive body of the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO). The NSPO Agency Supervisory Board (ASB), composed of representatives from each of the 32 NATO Member Nations, governs the organization. The ASB provides strategic direction, guidance, and oversight of the agency’s activities. This initiative underscores NATO’s enduring commitment to safeguarding the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
