TSAMTO, September 6. The French company Naval Group announced on September 1 at the Itaguai Naval Base the ceremony of commissioning the Brazilian Navy's Riachuelo-class head NAFL.
(S40) "Riachuelo" (a modified version of the "Scorpen" NAPL) was built in Brazil by Itaguai Construcoes Navais (ICN) in Itaguai (Rio de Janeiro) as part of a technology transfer program from Naval Group.
The head of the Directorate General for Nuclear and Technological Development of the Brazilian Navy DGDNTM (Directorate-General for Nuclear and Technological Development of the Navy) Admiral Petronio Augusto Siqueira de Aguiar signed with Itaguai Construcoes Navais (ICN) and Naval Group a preliminary acceptance certificate (S40) "Riachuelo" on August 26.
As reported by TSAMTO, the construction of the Riachuelo-class submarines is carried out within the framework of the PROSUB program (Program de Desenvolvimento de Submarinos), which began in 2008, the cost of which is estimated at 30 billion rials ($ 9.5 billion).
At the end of 2008, a contract was signed with the French DCNS (now Naval Goup) for the design and construction of four submarines with a non-nuclear power plant S-BR (Submarino BRasileiro) as part of an agreement on technology transfer, technical assistance in the design and construction of non-nuclear parts of the first nuclear submarine SN-BR (Submarino Nuclear BRasileiro), the construction of a new shipyard with the UFEM metal construction company, a naval base to support a nuclear submarine, the supply of 30 heavy F21 torpedoes and 50 false targets "Canto-S" (Canto-S). The NAPS will be built on the basis of the Naval Goup "Scorpen" submarine project, adapted to the requirements of the Brazilian Navy. The contract came into force in October 2009.
Formed by French Naval Goup and Brazilian Odebrecht (now Novonor), the joint venture ICN (Itaguai Construcoes Navais) is to supply the Brazilian Navy with four NAPS (Riachuelo (S40), Umaita (S41), Tonelero (S42) and Angostura (S43)), as well as one nuclear submarine the boat "Almirante Alvaro Alberto" (SN10). Initially, it was assumed that the NPS would be put into service in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2022, respectively, and the NPS in 2025. However, due to changes to the project and funding problems, the program fell behind schedule.
The launch of the lead submarine of the series, (S40) "Riachuelo", sections of which were built in France and Brazil, took place on December 14, 2018.
The remaining three submarines Humaita (S41), Tonelero (S42) and Angostura (S43) are currently at different stages of construction in Brazil. The second submarine of the series, Humaita, was launched in December 2020. As expected, its tests will begin in the coming days.
The S-BR is designed to perform various tasks, including anti-ship and anti-submarine warfare, support for special operations and intelligence gathering. According to available information, the Brazilian submarine is larger in length and displacement of the "Scorpen" submarine. Hull length – 71.62 m, displacement – 1870 tons, crew – 32 people. The NPL is equipped with four MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesel engines and one Jeumont-Schneider EPM Magtronic electric motor, can reach a speed of 21 knots underwater, a range of 6000 nautical miles at a speed of 8 knots above water and 550 nautical miles at a speed of 4 knots underwater. The maximum diving depth is 400 m, the autonomy is 45 days. The armament will include six 533-mm torpedo tubes with heavy F21 torpedoes developed by Naval Group and SM39 Block-2 Mod anti-ship missiles.2 "Exocet" of the MBDA group. Up to 18 weapons (torpedoes, missiles) can be placed on board.
