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Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab said on Thursday it plans to submit an unsolicited proposal to Portugal in late October or early \u200bNovember to supply Eurofighter Typhoon jets as the country seeks \u200cto replace its ageing F-16 fleet, pitching the European-built warplane as better suited to Lisbon\u2019s needs than Lockheed Martin\u2019s F-35.<\/strong><\/p>\n Portugal has yet to launch a formal \u200btender to replace its 28 upgraded F-16M fighter jets, but \u200bthe Airbus move signals intensifying competition for a deal \u2060that would deepen Lisbon\u2019s defence ties with either European or US \u200bpartners. Airbus manufactures the Typhoon alongside Britain\u2019s BAE Systems and Italy\u2019s Leonardo.<\/p>\n The \u200bproposal would include \u201cpublic and private financing solutions for Portugal in order to alleviate the payment plan\u201d, coupled with industrial participation and military cooperation linked to the \u200boffer, Eurofighter campaign manager for Portugal, Ivan Gonzalez Exposito, told reporters.<\/p>\n Airbus Defence & \u200bSpace Head of Europe Jose Luis de Miguel said Portugal could also benefit from \u200cstronger \u2060defence, political and industrial ties with key European partners in the Eurofighter programme.<\/p>\n Portugal\u2019s Defence Minister Nuno Melo has said he wants to see competition among manufacturers to maximise benefits for the country and its industries.<\/p>\n The \u200bTyphoon faces competition \u200bfrom Lockheed Martin\u2019s \u2060F-35, widely seen by defence analysts as the leading contender, as well as Dassault Aviation\u2019s Rafale and \u200bSaab\u2019s Gripen E.<\/p>\n Gonzalez Exposito said the Portuguese Air Force\u2019s \u200bprimary tasks \u2060centre on air policing, NATO quick reaction alert missions and the protection of national airspace and waters, rather than conducting offensive operations deep \u2060inside enemy \u200bterritory, which is the primary purpose \u200bof the F-35 stealth fighter.<\/p>\n \u201cFor that the Eurofighter is the ideal solution,\u201d he said, describing \u200bit as \u201cthe best air superiority fighter in the world\u201d.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n