According to the website of the Spanish newspaper "Confidential News" on April 5th, the country that has recently decided to add a "drone carrier" to its forces is not any military power in the world. And it's right next door to Spain: Portugal. According to reports, on November 24th last year, the Dutch shipbuilding group Damon announced the signing of a procurement contract for a special ship with the Portuguese government. This vessel, classified as a Multi functional Naval Platform (PNM), will be named the Portuguese Navy A-5209 "Joon II". Expected to enter service in the first half of 2026. The main function of this ship is to manage, that is, to command and control drones, as well as the launch and subsequent recovery of drones. What kind of drone is it suitable for? All types: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), and Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs). According to the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Navy, the maximum number of drones that the ship can control is 50. In addition, the ship is planned to be used for oceanographic research, search and rescue, emergency support, maritime safety, and naval support operations. In short, it is all tasks that can be used as a national maritime operation. In terms of technical parameters, the ship is 107 meters long, 20 meters wide, and has a displacement of 7000 tons. The design of this ship originated from a subtype of the Multi functional Support Ship (MPSS) series sold by Damon. According to Damen, its maximum speed can reach 15 to 20 knots - slightly lower for aerial operations - and it can continue to sail at a speed of 10 knots for 45 days, with a cruising range of over 10000 nautical miles. For Portugal, this is ideal data as it has two islands in the Atlantic and the world's second-largest maritime search and rescue zone. In addition to drone management, the MPSS provided by Damen can also perform tasks such as limited amphibious support, humanitarian assistance in emergency situations, search and rescue, support for divers (which can accommodate high-pressure cabins), submarine rescue operations, and aerial operations using rotary wing aircraft and drones. These aerial activities unfold from a flight deck that is 96 meters long and 11 meters wide. The deck is divided into 7 drone points and 1 helicopter point located at the stern, capable of taking off and landing helicopters weighing up to 15 tons. For maintenance purposes, the drone carrier has three hangars, two for drones and one for helicopters weighing less than 10 tons. In addition, the USS Joon II is not only a drone carrier, but also an ocean research ship. It has a laboratory and accommodation space that can accommodate about 40 scientists. It is equipped with various sensors and is equipped with an acoustic positioning system, which enables it to operate together with unmanned underwater vehicles. Due to the use of civilian components, the price of the ship is not high. The total cost is approximately 130 million euros, of which the Portuguese government will contribute 37.5 million euros, and the remaining portion will be provided by the European Union's European Recovery and Recovery Fund. Not only is the price low, but the personnel requirements are also low. This 7000 ton ship only needs to be equipped with less than 50 people. In short, the Jo ã o II was part of the structural reform of the Portuguese navy, according to the report. According to the Chief of Staff of the Portuguese Navy, they plan to
Edit：Luo yu Responsible editor：Wang er dong
Source：CKXX
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