Portugal to launch Europe’s first dedicated drone carrier

Portugal is building Europe’s first warship designed specifically to operate unmanned systems, a project that could reshape how smaller navies conduct maritime operations, according to Euronews.

The vessel, named D João II, is being constructed by Dutch shipbuilder Damen at a shipyard in Galati, Romania, at a cost of €132 million, largely funded through EU recovery funds. Delivery is scheduled for the second half of this year.

This 107.6-meter ship is different from traditional aircraft carriers because it can deploy aerial, surface and underwater drones. Its mission can be changed within a week by swapping equipment on board. The Portuguese Navy, the world’s oldest continuously serving navy, which oversees about 4 million square kilometers of national maritime space, says the modular design gives the ship high flexibility at a much lower cost.

The ship will be able to stay at sea for up to 45 days and will have a crew of 48 and up to 42 specialists, such as drone operators. The vessel will also feature a large flight deck for drone operations, a hangar for maintenance, and systems for launching surface and underwater vehicles.

Portuguese officials plan to use D João II for support missions such as maritime surveillance, environmental monitoring, search and rescue, disaster response and evacuations from conflict zones. The ship will also help protect underwater infrastructure and monitor naval activity in the Atlantic.