Kalinak Signs Military-technical Cooperation Deal in Portugal

Lisbon, 25 March (TASR) - As part of Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak's (Smer-SD) visit to Portugal, where he met his counterpart Nuno Melo, Slovakia and Portugal signed a military-technical cooperation agreement on Tuesday (24 March). Kalinak expressed interest in Portuguese drones and KC-390 aircraft during his working visit to the country. Concerning unmanned aircraft, he visited leading Portuguese manufacturers - companies called Beyond Vision and Tekever. "Portugal developed this technology even before the start of the war in Ukraine. We're very interested in this kind of cooperation", said Kalinak. The Slovak minister also visited OGMA-Industria Aeronautica de Portugal, an aeronautical sector company that maintains aircraft engines for the Slovak armed forces. Kalinak mentioned negotiations on the purchase of KC-390 multi-purpose military transport aircraft made by Brazilian company Embraer. Portugal acquires these aircraft from Embraer, after which they are equipped with national technology to adapt them to NATO and EU standards. The Slovak minister therefore visited Beja air base, where both domestic and foreign pilots undergo training on this aircraft. The partners also discussed mutual cooperation within the multinational NATO brigade, as part of which 123 Portuguese soldiers are deployed at the Lest military training zone in Slovakia. Melo praised Slovakia's tradition of ammunition production, stating that it's an area in which Portugal can take inspiration from Slovakia. "In the European Union, we are well aware of the need to strengthen the European pillar of NATO's defence. This must happen, first and foremost, in our own countries and via agreements between European countries that can lead to the greater and better development of defence industries," said Melo during the meeting. ko/df