200 Military Families Head to Rural Alentejo as Portugal Builds New Air Force Firing Range

The Portugal Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the Força Aérea (Air Force) will relocate its firing range from Alcochete, near Lisbon, to Alter do Chão in the interior Portalegre district—a move that will bring 200 military families to a municipality of just 3,000 residents and unlock millions in compensatory infrastructure investment. The shift is necessary to clear land for the new Luís de Camões Airport, and while officials promise strict environmental controls, the Socialist Party is demanding transparency on territorial impacts and timeline.

Why This Matters:

• 7,500 hectares of land near the Portalegre-Fronteira border will host Europe's largest air force firing range by area.

• 200 military personnel and their families will relocate, injecting demand into local schools, shops, and services.

• State-owned land will form the core of the site, but private expropriations may follow if negotiations fail.

• Environmental controls from the current Alcochete range will be replicated, with "very limited" use of live ammunition.

A Strategic Trade-Off for Airport Construction

The relocation announcement by Defence Minister Nuno Melo on March 11, 2026, is a critical step in desmilitarizing the Alcochete site, where the government plans to construct the Luís de Camões Airport to replace Lisbon's aging Portela hub. The existing firing range serves all branches of Portugal's armed forces and security agencies. Without a replacement facility, the airport project cannot proceed.

Alter do Chão, a rural municipality in the Alentejo region near the Spanish border, emerged as the preferred destination after Mértola—considered in 2008—was rejected due to fierce local opposition. Mayor Francisco Miranda (PSD/CDS-PP coalition), now in his second term, confirmed that a zone has been identified along the municipality's border with Portalegre and Fronteira, likely close to the railway line and mainly on state-owned terrain.

"The area that has been identified includes lands belonging to the State," Miranda told reporters. "The rest will depend on negotiations between the State and private landowners." He declined to provide a specific timeline, noting that technical meetings with Defence Ministry staff are ongoing to finalize the exact footprint.

What This Means for Residents

For Alter do Chão, the arrival of the firing range represents both opportunity and disruption. The municipality stands to gain:

• Population influx: 200 military personnel plus families, reversing decades of interior depopulation.

• Economic stimulus: Local commerce, hospitality, and services will see new demand. Schools will enroll children of service members, potentially securing funding and staff retention.

• Infrastructure upgrades: Minister Melo pledged "compensatory investments," including improved roads, new military housing, and unspecified public works.

Yet the scale is daunting. A 7,500-hectare facility is roughly 10% of the municipality's total area. The Air Force Chief of Staff, General Sérgio Pereira, sought to reassure residents, emphasizing that live-fire exercises will be "very limited" and "completely controlled." Environmental controls will replicate protocols from Alcochete. Simulated training will dominate due to the high cost of live ammunition, and activities will be scheduled outside peak wildfire season.

Mayor Miranda downplayed concerns about protected bird species, stating they are "practically not seen in the municipality." Still, the Socialist Party parliamentary group is not convinced.

Parliamentary Scrutiny and Unanswered Questions

Five PS deputies, led by Luís Moreira Testa, the Portalegre district representative, submitted a formal parliamentary inquiry demanding answers on nine key issues. Their questions include:

• Exact land parcels: Which specific plots will be used, and under what ownership regime (public domain, state acquisition, or expropriation)?

• Technical justification: What operational, environmental, and territorial studies informed the choice of Alter do Chão?

• Stakeholder consultation: Were local authorities, the Alentejo Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Alentejo), and affected populations consulted, and when?

• Environmental safeguards: What mitigation measures are planned for noise, soil contamination, and biodiversity?

• Compensation framework: What territorial, economic, or public investment offsets will the municipality and district receive?

• Timeline: When will the project be defined, environmental assessments completed, land acquired, and the range operational?

• Compatibility: Has the design accounted for the Crato-Pisão multipurpose dam and irrigation perimeter, and for the Ponte de Sor Municipal Aerodrome, including its air traffic zones and expansion plans?

Minister Melo is scheduled to address the inquiry in a parliamentary hearing this Thursday. He has so far declined to provide cost estimates, stating only that expenses will be shared between the Defence and Infrastructure ministries, and that construction will proceed "within the shortest legal timeframes."

Environmental and Legal Considerations Ahead

Under Portuguese law, the project must undergo mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA) and secure approval from multiple agencies before construction begins. The Barragem do Pisão reservoir, a key irrigation asset for the region, lies in proximity, as does the Ponte de Sor aerodrome, which is undergoing expansion and air traffic zone reconfiguration. These factors will likely be central to environmental review and compatibility assessments.

A Test of Interior Development Policy

The relocation is a litmus test for Portugal's commitment to interior revitalization. Alter do Chão has long struggled with emigration and economic stagnation, characteristic of inland Alentejo. The promise of 200 families, plus infrastructure investment, could stabilize the local economy—or create resentment if environmental and social costs outweigh benefits. Mértola's rejection in 2008 showed that rural communities are not passive recipients of top-down decisions.

What Happens Next

Technical teams from the Ministry of Defence and Alter do Chão municipality are meeting regularly to define the range's exact boundaries. No timeline has been announced for completing these studies, acquiring land, or breaking ground. Minister Melo emphasized urgency but acknowledged that EIA, public consultation, and administrative procedures cannot be bypassed.

The parliamentary inquiry will likely intensify pressure for disclosure. If the government cannot demonstrate compatibility with regional water, agricultural, and aviation assets, or fails to present a credible compensation package, local support may fracture.

For now, Alter do Chão remains cautiously optimistic. Mayor Miranda's cooperation signals municipal buy-in, but residents and neighboring councils are watching closely. The outcome will shape not only the Air Force's operational future but also the credibility of Portugal's interior development agenda.