Brazil's first Naval Group Scorpene submarine Riachuelo finally launched on
December 14, 2018. (Photo courtesy Mauro Pimentel/AFP/Getty Images via DefenseNews)
---
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
Has Brazil and Naval Group a better relation? https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2018/12/17/frances-naval-group-eyes-brazil-as-hub-for-its-regional-submarine-business/
ReplyDeleteWill Brazil get nuclear subs?
"Beginning in the mid-2020s, the country’s military wants to start building what Naval Group chief HervéGuillou calls the “ultimate ambition” – a program of nuclear-powered submarines.
Design work for the first nuclear submarine is already underway, with the French shipbuilder providing “assistance,” as a company brochure puts it, and the Brazilian navy in a more prominent role. The sea service here will manage all aspects of the power plant development, for example."
/Kjell
Thanks /Kjell
ReplyDeleteI have shifted your above comment to the above article - at http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2018/12/brazil-finally-launches-conventional.html .
As Naval Group has overseen the building a batch of what is are existing SCORPENE submarines in Brazil
there are less risks, costs and delays than Australia's intention to build future Naval Group Shortfin-Attack concept class subs in Australia.
Australia's Federal Government likes to build submarines in the most problematic, costly, way to disguise huge subsidies to Adelaide, South Australia, to buy votes.
The Australian Federal Govenment has only a tenuous hold on power. Hence every signature and utterance from Australia's (current) Defence Minister (Pyne), from now on will be a desperate move to win the May 18, 2019 Election.
the Brazilian or the SN-BR as the SSN is titled has been a very laborious delayed project.
ReplyDeleteAs of 2018 beginning, a prototype of propulsion system (reactor turbo-generator propeller) seems to be under construction...
The Arihant from keel laying to commission took 19 years (1997-2016)...Since Brazilian efficiency is not dissimilar to India, one could reliably expect the first SSN by 2038-2040..
One thing bothers me though... It is likely the Brazilians will use Exocets and F21 torpedoes as primary weapons as it will save them time. However for proper deterrence I assume Brazil will need a longer range SLCM one day... 180 km range Exocet just won't cut it.. will it?
even the cruise missile program they have only plans max range of 300 km.. they need a CJ-10 type or Nirbhay missile with LACM and ASCM versions...I assume the first SSN will not feature VLS and will resort to firing missiles from the torpedo tubes.
useful reading: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/the-long-history-brazils-nuclear-submarine-program
Hi GhalibKabir at 20/12/18 9:14 PM
ReplyDeleteI think the main reason Brazil has been developing an SSN is to hope to fulfil some nuclear military aspirations towards great power status. The US Western Hemispher/Monroe Doctrine definitely won't allow Brazil to have the Bomb but some in Brazil hope Brazil can squeak past at least with a locally built reactor for SSN.
These are also nuclear enthusiasts in Brazil with ambitions outside of conventional military priorities. Against them the normal conventional armed forces policy setters may indeed be comfortable with a launch of the first Brazilian nuclear sub in 2040.
Brazil unlike Australia has severe medium term economic troubles and longer term unevenly poor majority requiring huge national development. Maybe a UK no deal Brexit will be good for Brazilian (and Australian) trade with the UK.
Unlike Pakistani and Chinese strategic threats against India, Brazil has no mortal enemies. There is no longer any military nuclear competition from Argentina and the US protection racket protects Brazil from other great or super powers.
In all this I don't think Brazil would be permitted by the US to have nuclear weapons or delivery means befitting an SSN.
Then again France's 1,000km (?) MdCN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storm_Shadow#Missile_de_Croisi%C3%A8re_Naval might be a packaged longer range cruise missile option for all of Brazil's new submarines. But I don't know if the US would approve. The US seeing longer range missiles as destabilising in its South American backyard. Also the US wouldn't want longer range cruise proliferating out to the UK's part-time strategic competitor Argentina.
If France is designing SN-BR along Barracuda lines I don't know if including VLS would be an option https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Barracuda-class_submarine
Thanks for https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/the-long-history-brazils-nuclear-submarine-program
also useful is https://www.armscontrol.org/print/1897 on how serious Brazil was taliking the Bomb, with West German help and against a then fascist Argentina.
Cheers
Pete