In a bid to strengthen defense cooperation, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed a significant agreement with the Portuguese Navy to investigate the joint creation of new-generation small submarines. This agreement was signed at MADEX 2025 in Singapore, a prominent naval defense expo, as reported by Chosun, a South Korean daily. Beyond submarine co-development, the pact also envisions working together in ship maintenance and overhaul operations. The Portuguese Navy, which currently relies on two 2,000-ton Tridente-class submarines commissioned back in 2010, is seeking to modernize and possibly expand its fleet. Sources indicate that the planned submarines could either match the size of the existing Tridente class or feature a more compact design suited for diversified missions. Admiral Jorge Nobre de Sousa, the present head of the Portuguese Navy, supports expanding capabilities in collaboration with experienced partners like Hyundai. This venture is expected to contribute not just to Portugal’s naval modernization but also to regional industrial growth and defense innovation.
