This is a list of equipment in service with the Portuguese Army.
Individual gear
Clothing and protection Model Image Origin Type Camo pattern (type) Environment / colours Quantity Notes Standard-issue equipment SCSSoldier Combat System Bulletproof vest, combat helmet, uniform, gloves, military boot and holster M18 – padrão multi-terreno(mix of pattern type flecktarn / disruptive)Universal > 12,000 New standard issue uniform, distributed gradually sincy 2019, widely in use by all army units since 2024.The new equipment includes: ballistic helmets, protective glasses, maxillofacial protection, ballistic vests, Kevlar elbow pads, protective gloves, boots, watches and physiological monitors on the wrist. PASGTPersonnel Armor System for Ground Troops Combat helmet and uniform DPMDisruptive Pattern MaterialTemperate / central Europe > 30,000 Former standard issue uniform, introduced in the 90s in the Portuguese Army, consisting of ballistic helmets, vests and uniforms.It is currently in the process of being replaced by the new uniform known as SCS - Soldier Combat System. Special forces equipment Special forces gears Bulletproof vest, combat helmet and uniform MultiCamUniversal > 1,000 The clothing and accessories use the MultiCam pattern.Protection:
Helmet: Ops Core Bulletproof vests: THOR (NFM Group) Warrior Assault Other: Source Tactical Gear: 3 liter Rider tactical hydration bag Gears used by special and elite forces of the Portuguese Army:
CTOE (Centro de Tropas de Operações Especiais) Commando: Regimento de Comandos, Paratroopers: Tropas Paraquedistas Until the new SCS gears entered service, it was also used by the regular troops in foreign operations.Snow Camouflage Suit–Snow camouflage–––Used by personnel from the Special Operations Troops Center in snowy environments.. Specialised equipment Saab Barracuda SOTACS Ghillie suit – – – Used by Portuguese snipers.Advanced Bomb Suit(Illustration)Bomb suit–––Used by the explosive ordnance disposal teams of the 1st Engineering Regiment.
Electronic equipment Model Image Origin Type Quantity Notes Targeting equipment Newcon Optik 7×42 LRB 6K (illustration) Binocular with laser rangefinder – Used by artillery and mortar advanced observation units. Elbit Systems Coral-CR Binocular with laser rangefinder –Used by artillery and mortar advanced observation units for ISTAR (Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) missions. Safran-Vectronix MOSKITO Multifunction IR goggles(laser range finder, laser pointer, compass, inclinometers) – Used for ISTAR (Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance). Jenoptik NYXUS Bird Long Range – Multifunction IR goggles(laser range finder) 214 Used for observation, intelligence, surveillance. Handling equipment AN/PVS-14 Night-vision device – AN/PVS-21 Night-vision goggles – Used by the special forces. Senop VVLITE Night-vision device 1,485 The device can also be used with a red dot sight. Miscellaneous electronic equipment Galaxy S20 TE - ATAKAndroid Tactical Assault Kit – Mobile device – Roles: Tactical mapping, navigation, secure communication, and intelligence sharing. AN/PSN-11 PLGR Handheld precision lightweight GPS receiver –
Weapons
Light weapons Model Variant Image Origin Type Calibre NotesCombat KnifeExtrema Ratio Fulcrum–Bayonet–Acquired in 2019 along with the FN SCAR L and H rifles. Can be attached to the end of both rifles. Handguns Glock 17 Gen 5 FS Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Service pistol. 3,910 units purchased between 2019 and 2020 to replace the following pistols that were in service with the Portuguese Army: Walther P38, SIG P228, Heckler & Koch USP and Beretta 92. Heckler & Koch P30 – Semi-automatic pistol9×19mm Parabellum Some units received by Special Operations Troops Centre. Limited use. Submachine guns Heckler & Koch MP5 MP5 A5 Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum MP5 SD6 MP5 N2 MP5 KA4 Assault and battle rifles FN SCAR SCAR-L STD Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Standard service rifle.15,000 SCAR-L STD purchased in 2019. SCAR-H STD Battle rifle 7.62×51mm NATO 390 SCAR-H STD purchased in 2019. Heckler & Koch HK416 HK416 A5 Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Used by Special Operations Troops Centre. Heckler & Koch HK417 HK417 A2 Battle rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Used by Special Operations Troops Centre. Precision rifles FN SCAR SCAR H PR Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm NATO 550 SCAR-H PR purchased in 2019. Heckler & Koch HK417 G28E Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Used by Special Operations Troops Centre. Accuracy International Arctic Warfare AWSF Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Used by Special Operations Troops Centre. Accuracy International AX AXMC Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×67mm8.6×70mm Used by Special Operations Troops Centre. Anti-material rifles Barrett M82 M107A1 Anti-materiel rifle 12.7×99mm NATO Used by Special Operations Troops Centre. Machine guns FN Minimi Minimi 5.56 Mk3 Light machine gun 5.56×45mm NATO Standard light machine gun.1,000 purchased in 2019 to replace the HK21. Heckler & Koch MG4 – Light machine gun 5.56×45mm NATO Used by Commandos and Special Operations Troops Centre. FN Minimi Minimi 7.62 Mk3 General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO Standard GPMG.400 purchased in 2019 to replace the MG3. FN MAG – General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO Used by Portuguese Paratroopers and used as coaxial machine gun (Pandur II IFV and Leopard 2A6). M1919 – Heavy machine gun 7.62×63mm (.30-06 Springfield) Used as coaxial machine gun on VBL armoured vehicles. Browning M2 M2HB Heavy machine gun 12.7×99mm NATO Used on tripods and mounted on vehicles. Shotguns Benelli M4 – Semi-automatic shotgun 12 gauge Benelli Supernova – Pump action shotgun 12 gauge 380 purchased in 2020. Fabarm STF 12 – Pump action shotgun 12 gauge Used by the Special Operations Troops Centre. Grenade launchers Heckler & Koch HK269 – Under barrel grenade launcher 40×46 mm LV Operated with the Heckler & Koch HK416 rifles by the Special Operations Troops Centre. FN40GL FN 40GL Mk2 Under barrel grenade launcher 40×46 mm LV 2,000 purchased in 2019, used with the FN SCAR L or individually. Milkor MGL MGL Mk1 / Grenade launcher 40×46 mm LV Used by the Commandos, Paratroopers and Special Operations Troops Centre. Heckler & Koch GMG – Automatic grenade launcher 40×53 mm HV 30 units purchased in 2018. SB LAG 40 LAG SB M1 Automatic grenade launcher 40×53 mm HV 13 units in service, purchased in 1996. Mk19 mod 3 Automatic grenade launcher 40×53 mm HV Purchased in 1990. Anti-tank weapons M72 LAW M72 A3 Rocket-propelled grenade 66mm > 7,000 units received by the army (locally known as m/78):
A3 variant received in 2021 EC Mk1 variant received in 2024. M72 EC Mk1 Carl Gustav M2U Recoilless rifle 84mm 162 units received. 75 modernised in 2020 by the UAGME. M3 Recoilless rifle 84mm M3 version is in use since 2004. MILAN MILANMILAN 2-T Anti-tank guided missile 115mm 68 launchers and 799 missiles received.It will be replaced by the EuroSpike LR2 in 2026. BGM-71 TOW TOW 2 Anti-tank guided missile (vehicle mounted) 152mm 50 launchers M220, and 1,116 missiles received since 1980.Some launchers are mounted on vehicles:
30 equipped on M113A2 5 equipped on Pandur II ATGM.
Weapon accessories Model Image Origin Type Used with Notes Laser aiming devices AN/PEQ-16B MIPIMMini Integrated Pointing Illumination Module Laser-light module SCAR-L STD,SCAR-H STD,HK416 A5,HK417 A2 Rheinmetall LLM Vario-Ray Laser-light module SCAR-L STD,SCAR-H STD,HK416 A5,HK417 A2 Rheinmetall LM LowProfile – Laser-light module SCAR-L STD,SCAR-H STD,HK416 A5,HK417 A2 1,500 purchased in 2021. Sights Aimpoint CompM4 Red dot sight SCAR-L STD,SCAR-H STD,HK416 A5,HK417 A2 Trijicon VCOG 1-6×24 Telescopic sight SCAR H PR,G28E,AWSF,AXMC Schmidt & Bender 1.5-8×26 PM II Short Dot – Telescopic sight SCAR H PR,G28E,AWSF,AXMC
Indirect fire
Mortars Model Image Origin Type Calibre Quantity Notes Mortar carriers M106 Mortar carrier 107mm 1 18 purchased from the USA in 1997.2 M106 retired from service in January 2020 (demilitarised and scrapped).Equipment:
1 × M30 mortar on a rotating base, ≤ 88 × shells 1 × M2 Browning M106A2 15 M125A1 Mortar carrier 81 mm 3 15 purchased from the USA. 2 M125A2 retired from service in January 2020 (demilitarised and scrapped). Equipment:
1 × 81mm mortar M/937 M125A2 10 Bravia Chaimite V600 porta-morteiro Mortar carrier 81 mm 6 The 6 vehicles operated by the 6th Cavalry Regiment in Braga are the last Chaimite armored vehicles in service with the Portuguese Army. Equipment:
1 × 81mm mortar M/937 ≤ 42 × shells Heavy mortars Tampella B - Morteiro Tampella Tipo B m/74 Heavy mortar 120mm 56 56 units in service, of which 9 are operated by the Heavy Fire Battery of the Field Artillery Group of the 4th Artillery Regiment. M30 mortar Heavy mortar 107mm 12 Received in 1996. Infantry mortars M29A1 Mortar 81mm 130 L16A2 Mortar 81mm 32 Light mortars FBP - Morteirete m/68 Infantry mortar 60mm 558
Artillery Model Image Origin Type Calibre Quantity Notes Self-propelled howitzer M109A5 SPHSelf-propelled howitzer 155mm, L/39 18 18 purchased between 2002 and 2007, succeeding to 6 M109A2.Operated by the Field Artillery Group (GAC 15.5 AP) of the Mechanised Brigade.Planned replacement with the CAESAR Mk 2 (letter of intent signed in February 2025).Note: 5 M109A2 are stored at Santa Margarida Military Camp, and 1 was donated to the Military Museum, in Elvas. Towed artillery L119 LG Towed howitzer 105mm, L/30 21 21 acquired between 1998 and 1999, succeeding to the M101A1 / M101A1L.18 operated by the Rapid Reaction Brigade (4th Artillery Regiment) and 3 operated by the School of Arms in Mafra, for the instruction of artillerymen. It can be transported by the EH-101 helicopter. M114A1 Towed howitzer 155mm, L/23 12 40 acquired in 1983, 12 operated by the Intervention Brigade (5th Artillery Regiment) as of 2024. Unknown quantity of howitzers donated to Ukraine in 1st trimester 2025 and 4 donated after December 2025.Replacement of the M114 planned with the CAESAR Mk 2 (letter of intent signed in February 2025). 12 would replace the M114, 2 batteries of 6 self-propelled guns. Ceremonial cannons Ordnance QF 25-pounder Ceremonial cannon / former field gun 88mm, L/28 12 132 purchased (108 Mk. I and 24 Mk. III).Used for a ceremonial role by the following units:
1st Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment 2nd Garrison Regiment 3rd Garrison Regiment 5th Artillery Regiment
Indirect fire electronic systems Model Image Origin Type Role Notes Radars AN/PPS5-B Ground surveillance radar – Used by the 3rd Cavalry Regiment on Panhard M11 vehicles. AN/TPQ-36 firefinder / HMMWV M1097A2 Counter-battery radar – Six vehicles with two radars received in 2003. The tow-vehicle is unarmoured, and used to tow the radars. RATAC-S Battlefield reconnaissance and target acquisition radar – Command and control Raytheon AFATDSAdvanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System – Automated command and control system – Automated command-and-control software for coordinating, planning, and executing fire support. EyeCommand Battlefront – Artillery battlefield management system – Software supplied by Critical Software, and used from a DT10-M multi-functional rugged tablet.It is being integrated to the Raytheon AFATDS.
Armoured vehicles
Armoured vehicles Model Image Origin Type Quantity Notes Main battle tanks Leopard 2A6NL / PRT MBTMain battle tank 34 37 Leopard 2A6 MBT acquired second-hand from the Netherlands in 2008. On top of these, the acquisition included 1 Leopard 2 DTV and 1 Leopard 2A4 for spare parts.In March 2023, Portugal transferred 3 tanks to Ukraine (support against the Russian invasion).Initial modifications:
EID ER 525 (radio) CriticalSoftware BMS-C2 (battle management system) KMW Live Firing Monitoring Equipment (LFME) Mid-life update: contract signed in 2024 to bring the tanks to the Leopard 2A6 PRT standard: