Portugal Selected to Host EDA Operational Experimentation Campaign in 2026

Portugal has been selected to host the European Defence Agency’s Operational Experimentation Campaign (OPEX) in 2026, reinforcing the country’s role in multinational EU defense initiatives. The campaign is designed to evaluate emerging technologies in operationally relevant environments and feed results directly into European capability development efforts.

The OPEX framework enables EU member states to test concepts, systems, and procedures alongside military users. According to the agency, the 2026 campaign will concentrate on improving operational effectiveness and interoperability, while reducing the gap between research activities and deployable military capabilities.

European Defence Agency uses OPEX to support collaborative development across domains, linking experimentation with ongoing EU defense programs and priority capability areas. The initiative brings together national armed forces, defense industry participants, and research institutions under a common experimentation structure.

Portuguese authorities indicated that national training areas and facilities will be used to support the campaign, allowing participating nations to conduct trials under realistic field conditions. Hosting OPEX is expected to provide Portugal with increased exposure to multinational experimentation activities and closer integration with EU-level defense planning processes.

The 2026 campaign also aligns with broader EU efforts to strengthen defense readiness and industrial cooperation, particularly as member states seek to accelerate the transition from research and development to fielded capabilities. Results from the experimentation are intended to inform future procurement, standardization, and joint development decisions.