STM Defense Technologies held the block laying ceremony for the second ship, N.R.P. FERNANDO PESSOA, in its Logistics and Supply Support Ship project for the Portuguese Navy on October 20, 2026, at Istanbul's ADA Shipyard. This milestone demonstrates the project's progress according to schedule. Turkey's first military ship export to an EU and NATO member nation, the project involves the simultaneous construction of two vessels. Following the ceremony, officials confirmed that both ships will be launched in 2027 and delivered to the Portuguese Navy by 2028.

STM, a leading Turkish defense maritime company, continues to transfer expertise gained from 44 naval platform projects across 11 different shipyards to international markets. The company established a strategic partnership with Portugal through a contract signed in Lisbon on December 17, 2024. The first vessel, N.R.P. LUÍS DE CAMÕES, completed its design phase before steel cutting commenced in November 2025, with block laying occurring in January 2026. The second ship underwent steel cutting on June 18, 2026, advancing to the block construction phase. These projects at ADA Shipyard demonstrate Turkish naval engineering competence at the international level.

The Logistics and Supply Support Ships will measure 137 meters in length with a displacement of 11,000 tons and a maximum speed of 18+ knots. The vessels will remain operational at sea for 30 consecutive days and accommodate 100 crew members plus 100 additional personnel. Their modular design enables transport of up to 20 light armored tactical vehicles, fuel and cargo transfer at sea, and support for helicopter and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) operations. Equipped with close-in weapon systems, 12.7 mm remote-controlled gun systems, and chaff/decoy systems, the ships will feature integrated communication systems and command-and-control capabilities. The vessels' versatility allows them to perform humanitarian assistance, search and rescue, medical support, and amphibious operations.

From a Turkish defense industry perspective, this project represents tangible outcomes of localization and research-and-development efforts in maritime technology. STM's victory over world-leading military maritime firms in this tender demonstrates Turkish engineering and design capacity's international competitiveness. The modular architecture enables the ships to execute diverse operational missions beyond logistics support, including humanitarian aid, search and rescue, medical assistance, and amphibious operations. This versatility reflects NATO-standard design and the integrated collaboration of Turkey's defense industry ecosystem.

Portuguese Navy Commander Admiral Nobre de Sousa emphasized that the ships will serve as force multipliers, strengthening NATO's maritime operations and contributing to collective defense in the Euro-Atlantic region. The vessels bear names reflecting Portugal's rich literary and maritime heritage: the first ship honors national poet Luís de Camões, while the second carries the name of 20th-century poet Fernando Pessoa. This project exemplifies strategic cooperation between two NATO allies and represents a significant achievement in Turkey's military ship export record, reinforcing the nation's position in the international defense market.