Argentina has two TR-1700 Santa Cruz class submarines which are large 2,200 tonne derivatives of the Type 209 (Photo courtesy http://www.military-today.com/navy/santa_cruz_class.htm). The two were built in Germany and at 30 years old must be nearing retirement. Two TR-1700s, partially completed in Argentina by Astillero Domecq Garcia, are reportedly "laid up". One or both of these last two might perhaps become test-beds for reactor research. See more on reactor aspects in the following article.
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The following concerns Argentinian attitudes to Brazil’s nuclear propelled submarine program and the possibility of an Argentinian nuclear submarine program.
The information is from armscontrol.org, worldnuclearreport.org, a small bit from wikipedia and more from Eduardo Diez's article, Argentine positions towards the Brazilian nuclear-powered submarines program, Brasilia, March 19, 2013. Diez's paper in full is at http://www.academia.edu/3884279/Argentine_positions_towards_the_Brazilian_nuclear-powered_submarines_program
Argentine geopolitical experts like Enrique Guglialmelli believed that there should be strategic balancing to prevent the South Atlantic from becoming a Brazilian sea. Those Argentinians influenced by his thinking are now worried about the future Brazilian nuclear-powered submarine. Argentina's and Brazil's military competition has been focused mainly on naval capabilities. A Brazilian nuclear submarine would represent a major increase in Brazilian power and could pose a threat to Argentina’s efforts to being a regional leader in the nuclear field.
(from http://www.armscontrol.org/print/1897) In 1979 the Brazilian military government created a secret and autonomous parallel program to develop a complete nuclear fuel cycle outside of international safeguards. Under the stewardship of Coordenadoria de Projetos Especiais (COPESP), the Brazilian navy’s special projects commission, the program initially focused on developing a small light-water reactor for submarine propulsion and an indigenous uranium-enrichment capability using centrifuges. COPESP began construction of a pilot enrichment plant at Aramar in Ipero in 1987. At the inauguration of the plant, authorities said the facility would produce low-enriched uranium (5 percent enrichment) for existing power and research reactors and for nuclear submarine reactors. [Pete's Comment - 5% Uranium enrichment seems very low for a submarine reactor. Would this be notional to satisfy non-proliferation concerns or be a genuine fogure?]
Under the 1991 Brazilian-Argentine peaceful use of nuclear energy "Guadalajara" Agreement (http://www.abacc.org.br/wp-content/uploads/1991/08/bilateral_agreement.pdf ), Article III states that “none of the provisions of the present Agreement shall limit the right of the Parties to use nuclear energy for the propulsion of any type of vehicle, including submarines, since propulsion is a peaceful application of nuclear energy."
[ http://www.worldnuclearreport.org/Construction-Start-of-Small.html February 12, 2014 report] Construction of the CAREM-25 (Central ARgentina de Elementos Modulares) nuclear reactor began February 8, 2014. After repeated delays, the 27 MWe small modular pressurized water reactor, is being built at a site next to the Atucha nuclear power plant in Lima, 110 km northwest of Buenos Aires. The reactor has been developed by the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA) and its high technology spin off company INVAP. According to the CNEA, the reactor project cost will be ARS3.5 billion ($446 million) – and is scheduled to begin cold testing in 2016 and receive its first fuel load in the second half of 2017.
The reactor’s proximity to the border of Paraguay and lack of notification by the Argentine government led the government in Asuncion to protest to the the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2013.
While promoted as a Generation IIII reactor, it has been under development for more than three decades. Originally developed by German company Siemens in the 1970’s, INVAP subsequently developed the reactor with the aim of it being suitable for use in Argentina’s German supplied TR-1700 submarines (photo above). The project was formally abandoned in the 1980’s following the end of military dictatorship in Argentina. However in 2010 the Argentine defense minister announced that nuclear submarine propulsion would once again be pursued, with INVAP playing a central role with construction of the CAREM-25 being the basis for future military application [that military stage may be the construction in Argentina’s Formosa Province of a 100-200 MWe reactor of appopriate size for submarine use.] Development of nuclear powered submarines is not prohibited under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The Brazilian Defense Ministry said in early March 2013 that its nuclear-powered submarine will be commissioned in 2023. By 2023, according to the Eduardo Diez's article, Argentina may be very close to have its own nuclear propelled submarine "as our last two Defense Ministers assured in the last three years." [Pete's Comment - Completion might be more likely to be around 2030 as developing a submarine around a reactor, then lengthy safe testing, takes years. Argentina also need's some nation to assist - noting India's "indigenous" submarine project is receiving Russian assistance.].
But even if, for political and/or financial, reasons Argentina does not develop its own nuclear submarines, some people there consider that the Brazilian development will help Argentina in many fields, including the exchange of technology, collaboration in the surveillance and control of our respective exclusive economic zones, joint naval exercises that could improve Argentina's knowledge in the detection of non-Brazilian nuclear submarines.
According to the Eduardo Diez's article, in regard to the Malvinas/Falklands issue British sees a Brazilian SSN as worrisome: “Brazil is an outspoken advocate of Argentina's right to claim the Malvinas/Falkland Islands. If the disagreement develops into military action, as it did in 1982, Brazil's new submarines would significantly reinforce the position of Argentina's closest ally. “Brazil to build nuclear submarines which will dramatically alter balance of power in South America”. (Daily Mail, U.K. July 18, 2011)
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CONNECT WITH:
http://gentleseas.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/brazil-future-ssn-dcns-assistance.html January 5, 2014 which provides details on Brazil's SSN Project.
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Pete