Brazil's first Naval Group Scorpene submarine Riachuelo finally launched on
December 14, 2018. (Photo courtesy Mauro Pimentel/AFP/Getty Images via DefenseNews)
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Almost as a piece of devotional archeology, Submarine Matters (in 2014 and more usefully in 2015) has been reporting on Brazil's delayed, interrupted, Naval Group overseen, conventional and nuclear submarine program. The program is called PROSUB and less polite names.
It is heartening that Brazil's first Scorpene, Riachuelo (S40) laid down in 2010 was launched December 14, 2018. One cannot blame Naval Group for Brazil's delayed program.
Brazil's conventional sub program is about 5 years behind schedule, mainly due to Brazil's peculiar system of defense budgeting. The system goes something like - if insufficient money in Year A's defense budget, then no submarine building progress in Year A.
Naval Group produced some of Riachuelo's sections in Cherbourg, France. Then, to save time, Naval Group went to the trouble of flying them to the Brazilian assembly yard in 2012.
Brazil currently operates 5 Tupi class Type 209 submarines.
Due to standard first of class delays, and Brazil's defense budgeting system, Riachuelo's
commissioning may be in 2021.
Launch of the 3 remaining Scorpenes may occur every 2 or 3 years (ie. 2021, 2023 and 2025).
No. Name Laid down Launched Commissioned Based
S40 Riachuelo 27 May 2010 2018 maybe 2021 Itaguai, Sepetiba Bay
S41 Humaitá 1 Sept 2013 maybe 2021 maybe 2023 Itaguai, Sepetiba Bay
S42 Tonelero maybe 2021 maybe 2023 maybe 2025 Itaguai, Sepetiba Bay
S43 Angostura maybe 2023 maybe 2025 maybe 2027 Itaguai, Sepetiba Bay
Pete