Portugal defence groups target US market despite tensions

Twenty-two Portuguese defence companies began a three-day mission in Washington on Monday, combining Portugal’s first national stand at the Sea-Air-Space Expo with the PT-US Defence Industry Days at the Portuguese embassy, in a push to win business in the world’s largest defence market and deepen industrial ties with US partners.

The mission comes at a sensitive moment in transatlantic relations, with tensions between Europe and the United States rising over Iran and wider alliance management. Even so, Portuguese companies attending the event said they do not expect the political backdrop to disrupt business discussions or long-term industrial cooperation.

José Neves, president of AED Cluster, said the Washington programme forms part of “a clear strategy to internationalise and strengthen the position of Portugal’s technological capabilities in the defence sector”. He said the US events could help Portuguese companies reinforce existing partnerships, identify new business opportunities and improve their integration into international value chains.

Companies involved in the mission said the goal is less about securing immediate contracts and more about building medium-term commercial relationships. Orion Technik said it wants to strengthen its position in the aerospace and defence ecosystem, while Tekever said the visit should help it deepen industrial and technological cooperation with US partners. Infinite Foundry said it will present work developed under its AMIDA project, focused on operational digital twins and distributed physical intelligence for battlefield management.

Some participants already have meaningful exposure to the US market. Optimal Group said the United States accounts for about 20% of its global revenue, while Beyond Vision said it has already signed a contract worth at least €15 million in the US emergency medical market and announced a €50 million investment in a factory there.

Executives also pointed to areas where Portugal could attract US interest, including autonomous systems and drones, critical software and cybersecurity, advanced materials, embedded electronics, dual-use technologies and space-related capabilities. For Portuguese companies, the argument is that specialised technology and engineering know-how may offer a route into programmes dominated by larger prime contractors.

António Reis, chief executive of Optimal Group, dismissed the idea that the current political tensions should deter the sector from engaging with the US market. “Companies do not do politics. Politicians do politics”, he said, arguing that American and European businesses still have strong incentives to work together and that Portuguese groups should stay focused on commercial opportunities rather than diplomatic friction.