The Portuguese Army’s deployable intelligence fusion system achieved an IOC during Exercise ‘Orion 22′ held in central Portugal during 2–12 May. (Victor Barreira)

The Portuguese Army has upgraded its intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, with its deployable intelligence fusion system having achieved an initial operational capability (IOC), the Commander of the Rapid Reaction Brigade’s ISTAR Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Duarte Jorge Heitor Caldeira, told
Janes
on 11 May.

Operated by the battalion’s command-and-control company, the system was fielded and reached an IOC during Exercise ‘Orion 22′ held in central Portugal during 2–12 May, gathering information to support decision making by the higher command echelon of the exercise.

Composed of four 15-ft tactical shelters with telescopic masts, and four trailer-mounted 12 kVA diesel power generating sets, the system was purchased via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) from Lavorazioni Elettroniche E Meccaniche (LEM) in 2020 for EUR1.87 million (USD2 million).

The four shelters were received in November 2021, Lt Col Duarte Caldeira said.