HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed a new cooperation deal with the Portuguese Navy aimed at the joint development of next-generation small submarines. The signing took place during the MADEX 2025 defense exhibition in Singapore, where global maritime players gathered to showcase and discuss naval innovation. The South Korean news outlet Chosun reports that this collaboration may also encompass naval maintenance and overhaul work. Portugal currently operates two 2,000-ton Tridente-class submarines, commissioned in 2010, which are due for reinforcement or replacement. Discussions are reportedly ongoing about the size and specifications of the additional submarines, with the possibility of deploying smaller vessels better suited for regional operations. Former and current naval commanders, Admirals Gouveia e Melo and Jorge Nobre de Sousa, have both hinted at the need for fleet diversification. The agreement not only reflects Portugal’s desire to strengthen its underwater defense capabilities but also indicates Hyundai’s rising role in global naval construction partnerships.
