HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and the Portuguese Navy have signed a memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership with the Portuguese Navy at the Marine Defense Exhibition 2025 (MADEX), reports ChosunBiz (1).
The South Korean company presented three types of export models submarines at MADEX25 in Busan, one with 2300tons, the second with 1500 and a third with 800.
The Portuguese Navy operates two Tridente Class submarines but as always desired to operate 4 submarines or at least 3. Last year the Navy magazine also reported in their December issue closer ties with Turkish and South Korea industry for the development and sustainment of the submarine branch(2).
The call for more submarines as gained some strength in recent times as both the previous Chief of Staff, Admiral Gouveia e Melo (3), and current one, Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa (4), have called for the procurement of a further two submarines, both admitting they could be of the same size or smaller than the Tridente.
Sources:
1 https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-industry/2025/05/30/NOMWVFD5DZG2NFKZLSSRP5W4RU/
2 Revista da Armada, Nº601, December, 2024