The event took place on November 26 at the Metallic Structures Manufacturing Unit, at the Itaguaí Naval Complex where the Scorpene type diesel-electric submarines (SSK) are currently being constructed as part of the PROSUB program.
Participating to the event was the director of international development of the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), General Engineer Thierry Carlier because the same day, a meeting of the Joint Brazil-France Submarine Cooperation Committee (CCCBF) was held.
For the record, the PROSUB program calls for the design and construction of four Riachuelo-class conventional submarines (SB-R), the design of the future nuclear-powered submarine (SN-BR) and the design of a naval base in ItaguaÏ. French Shipbuilder Naval Group is assisting Brazil in all steps of the PROSUB program.
According to the Brazilian Navy, “the event represents the initial step in the project licensing process and the construction process of the SN-BR. Admiral Olsen, invested with the competence delegated to him as Naval Authority for Nuclear Safety and Quality, emphasized the importance of this strategic milestone, which contributes directly and indirectly to a pioneering initiative, of historical importance, by concretely expressing the Navy’s dedicated and judicious treatment with the safety of its crews, the environment and society in general, an inseparable attribute of the strategic naval environment that will materialize one of the most relevant defense bastions of the Blue Amazon.”
About SN-10 Álvaro Alberto SSN
According to H I Sutton’s World Submarines, the future SN-10 Álvaro Alberto SSN of the Brazilian Navy will have an (estimated) length of 100 meters, a complement of 100 sailors and feature a sail similar to those of the Scorpene-class.
The original program to develop a Brazilian nuclear-powered submarine dates back to the 1970ies. Actual work on the SN-10 started in July 2012 but has been plagued by many fiscal delays. Planned use for this SSN is to protect Brazil’s vast maritime territory, the so called “Blue Amazon”
Other PROSUB milestones
Meanwhile, Naval Group announced that the Riachuelo, the first Brazilian submarine in the PROSUB program, successfully completed her first independent dive down to safety depth last week.
“Congratulations to all the teams in Brazil and France who have been working together on this program, demonstrating – for more than 10 years now – Naval Group and ICN’s ability to support their Brazilian customers in the design and construction of their future submarines,”
Pierre Éric Pommellet, Naval Group CEO
The launch of the second submarine of the class, Humaitá (S41), is set for 11 December. The same day, the forward and aft sections of the third submarine, Tonelero (S42), will be joined and welded. Tonelero (S42) and Angostura (S43) are set to be launched in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The Álvaro Alberto, the first Brazilian submarine with nuclear propulsion (SN-BR), is due to be launched in 2031. The SN-BR, as well as the incorporation of the four Riachuelo-class submarines will increase the capacity of the Brazilian Navy to respond efficiently to the enormous challenge of controlling and protecting the “Blue Amazon”, which represents one third of the country’s borders.
