Portugal to be ‘field laboratory’ for testing European defence technology
Portugal is the second country to host the European Defence Agency’s Operational Experimentation (OPEX) exercise in 2026. Registration for the Portuguese Army’s annual exercise is now open.
This year, Portugal will be a “field laboratory” for testing European defence technology. In September, the Portuguese Army, in collaboration with the European Defence Agency (EDA), will hold HEDI-OPEX 2026 at the Santa Margarida Military Camp. After Italy, Portugal is the second country to host this European operational technology experimentation exercise, under the Hub for EU Defence Innovation (HEDI).
“Portugal was chosen to host HEDI-OPEX 2026 because the proposal submitted was considered to be of the highest quality and fully aligned with the objectives of the EDA initiative. The integration of the campaign into ARTEx26 [the Portuguese Army’s annual exercise] reinforces synergies and ensures a realistic and relevant operational environment”, explains an official source from the Portuguese Army to ECO/eRadar.
“The Santa Margarida Military Camp offers unique conditions for field testing, including complex scenarios and live firing, with high standards of safety and coordination. EDA also valued the Portuguese regulatory framework, recognised as favourable to innovation and experimentation”, the same source emphasises. “The contribution of CEMTEx – the Army’s Centre for Experimentation and Technological Modernisation, demonstrated at HEDI–OPEX 2025 in Italy, reinforced confidence in the national capacity to host the 2026 edition”, it adds.
The Santa Margarida Military Camp offers unique conditions for field testing, including complex scenarios and live firing, with high standards of safety and coordination. EDA also praised the Portuguese regulatory framework, recognised as favourable to innovation and experimentation.
The aim of this exercise – which this year runs concurrently with ARTEx26, the Portuguese Army’s annual exercise – is to field test various defence technologies in a realistic scenario in order to accelerate their transition from a laboratory environment to military application.
After Italy, Portugal hosts OPEX
The first edition of OPEX took place last summer in Italy, focusing on autonomous and unmanned systems, under the theme ‘Autonomous Systems for Cross-domain Logistics’. In September this year, it is Portugal’s turn to host this European experimentation campaign.
“The exact number of participants in HEDI–OPEX 2026 has not yet been determined, but it is estimated to be similar to previous editions, combining national and European participation”, according to an official source from the Portuguese Army. The first edition “involved six European companies, 17 Member States and around 150 military personnel and technicians in the field, with more than 330 missions conducted using unmanned ground and air systems. Similar international involvement is expected for 2026”, he anticipates.
As for the focus, in terms of the technologies sought and to be tested in this edition, the same source states that “European experimentation campaigns prioritise solutions with direct application in an operational context, including autonomous aerial and ground systems (UAS/UGS); use in logistics (resupply, medical evacuation) and operational support; reconnaissance and surveillance; experimentation with loitering munitions; interoperability between systems, with a focus on integration in realistic operational scenarios”.
Applications for ARTEx26 now open
The European exercise runs concurrently with Army Technological Experimentation (ARTEx 26), organised annually by the Portuguese Army through CEMTEx.
“The initiative is relevant both nationally and internationally: it contributes to the modernisation of the Land Forces, accelerates operational learning (doctrine, training and integration), boosts the defence industry and economy, and deepens the connection between the Armed Forces, companies, universities and R&D centres, while strengthening European interoperability and Portugal’s contribution to defence innovation within the EU”, said an official source from the Portuguese Army.
Registration for the exercise is open until 20 February. “The registration process is open to entities from the National Scientific and Technological System, the Defence Technological and Industrial Base, Army R&D projects (or those with strong Army involvement), and national and international industry with eligible prototypes”, the same source explains. “In 2025, 31 companies participated in this aspect, which is a relevant reference for 2026”, he notes, when asked about expectations for participation by entities in ARTEx2026.
ARTEx “is relevant both nationally and internationally: it contributes to the modernisation of the Land Forces, accelerates operational learning (doctrine, training and integration), boosts the defence industry and economy, and deepens the connection between the Armed Forces, companies, universities and R&D centres, while strengthening European interoperability and Portugal’s contribution to defence innovation within the EU framework.
“Adequate technological maturity for testing in an operational environment”; “military relevance and applicability to the tasks envisaged”; “interoperability with other systems and integration in combined scenarios”, as well as “availability to conduct tests within a simulated military operation, including hostile environments and combat scenarios, ensuring safety requirements and operational coordination” are some of the selection criteria for participating entities.
