F-16s in service in Portugal "30 years"

They arrived in Portugal on July 8, 1994, today they are a fleet of 28 aircraft and made their first Portuguese flight on July 18, 1994.

In 1990, Portugal signed an agreement with the United States, Peace Atlantis I, for the acquisition of 20 F-16A/B Block 15 aircraft.

The country needed to modernize its Air Force and replace the old Fiat G.91 and Northrop T-38 Talon, where Fiats had already served in the Colonial War.

These F-16s were delivered in 1994 and their first Portuguese flight took place on July 18, 1994.

Between 1998 and 1999, with the Peace Atlantis II Agreement, Portugal acquired another 25 used F-16 aircraft (21 F-16As and 4 F-16Bs) from the United States Air National Guard.

There was a need to increase capacity and upgrade air defense systems.