Riachuelo-class submarine

For other ships with the same name, see Brazilian ship Riachuelo.
Humaitá
Class overview
NameRiachuelo class
BuildersICN
Operators Brazilian Navy
Preceded byTupi class
Cost
  • US$1 billion per unit (diesel-electric)
  • US$3.8 billion per unit (nuclear)
Built2010–present
In commission2022–present
Planned5 (1 nuclear)
Building1
Completed4
Active3
General characteristics
TypeAttack submarine
Displacement
  • Diesel-electric: 1,900 t (1,900 long tons)
  • Nuclear: 6,000 t (5,900 long tons)
Length
  • Diesel-electric: 70.62 m (231 ft 8 in)
  • Nuclear: 100 m (328 ft 1 in)
Beam
  • Diesel-electric: 6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
  • Nuclear: 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in)
Propulsion
  • Diesel-electric:
    • 4 × MTU 12V 396 SE84 diesels 1,500 hp (1,119 kW) each
    • 1 × Jeumont-Schneider EPM Magtronic electric 3,909 hp (2,915 kW)
    • 1 × Shaft
    • Exide Hagen batteries
  • Nuclear:
    • 1 × Pressurized water reactor, 48 MW (64,000 hp), LEU 20%
    • 1 × Nuclear turbo-electric engine
    • 1 × Shaft
Speed
  • Diesel-electric: 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph)
  • Nuclear: 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)
Test depth400 m (1,300 ft)
Complement
  • Diesel-electric: 32
  • Nuclear: 100
Sensors &
processing systems
  • Naval Group SUBTICS combat management system
  • Thales TSM 2233 Eledone hull and flank array passive sonar
  • Thales Safare/S-Cube hull active sonar
  • Safran Series 20 target identification and classification system
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
NotesSources:[1][2][3][4][5]

The Riachuelo class are a Brazilian class of diesel-electric and nuclear-powered attack submarines developed by the state-owned shipyard Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN), based on the French Scorpène class as part of the Submarine Development Program.[6][7][8][9][10]

History

In 2008, the Presidents of Brazil and France, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nicolas Sarkozy, signed a strategic partnership to the construction of four conventionally-powered submarines, and the support for the development of the first Brazilian nuclear submarine, in a program called PROSUB.[11][7]

The project was initiated in 2010 with the Madeira Island base in Rio de Janeiro as the submarine development and manufacturing point. Between 2010 and 2012, a group of 31 engineers, 25 officers and 6 civil employees, received theoretical training by the DCNS in Cherbourg, France. In 2018, more than 400 Brazilian engineers worked only on the nuclear submarine project staff, originally formed by the group that received training in France.[7][12] The first stage of construction of the conventionally-powered Riachuelo took place in France, with the cutting of the first steel plates of the structure. At this point, technology transfer from French technicians to Brazilians began.[13][14]

The conventional Brazilian boats are larger in length, tonnage and cargo capacity compared to the French Scorpène class they are derived from. The Brazilian version are 70.62 m (231 ft 8 in) and 1,900 tons, compared to the original Scorpènes that are 61.7 m (202 ft 5 in) and 1,565 tons.[15]

Nuclear submarine

As part of the program, a fifth submarine, named Álvaro Alberto, will be powered by nuclear propulsion. This unit has many similarities to its diesel powered predecessors of the Riachuelo class. The first Brazilian nuclear submarine will have a beam of 9.8 m (32 ft 2 in) to accommodate the pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR).[16] Its 100 m (330 ft) length and 6,000-ton displacement will be propelled by a 48 MW (64,000 hp) fully-electric propulsion system.[17] Once the vessel is completed no fuel imports are needed as all fuel required for the life cycle is included in the reactor.

Boats

The names of the conventional boats were selected to represent key Imperial Brazilian Navy's military operations during the Paraguayan War and the Platine War, and former Admiral Alfredo Karam. The nuclear boat honors the former Vice Admiral and scientist Álvaro Alberto da Motta e Silva.[18]

Name Hull no. Launched Commissioned Status
 Brazilian Navy
Riachuelo class
Diesel-electric
Riachuelo S40 14 Dec 2018[19] 1 Sep 2022[20] Active
Humaitá S41 11 Dec 2020[21] 12 Jan 2024[22] Active
Tonelero S42 27 Mar 2024[23] 26 Nov 2025[24] Active
Almirante Karam S43 26 Nov 2025[24] 2026[25] Sea trials[25]
Nuclear
Álvaro Alberto SN10 2029[26] 2032-2034[27][28] Under construction[25]
  Planned date

See also

References

  1. ^ "PROSUB: NUCLEP e ICN avançam na construção do Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Poder Naval. 2 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  3. ^ Luiz Padilha (5 December 2012). "SBr – Submarino 'Riachuelo' (S-40)". Defesa Aérea & Naval. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  4. ^ "Programa Nuclear da Marinha" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  5. ^ Joao Paulo Zeitoun Moralez (2 September 2021). "La Marina de Brasil incorpora el primer submarino de la Clase Riachuelo". Pucara Defensa.
  6. ^ "Itaguaí Construções Navais comemora dez anos de atividades" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Navy. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "O Prosub e o submarino nuclear brasileiro SN-BR" [The PROSUB and the Brazilian nuclear submarine SN-BR]. Poder Naval. 20 February 2018.
  8. ^ "DECRETO Nº 8.630, DE 30 DE DEZEMBRO DE 2015". Brazil Gov. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  9. ^ Nicolas von Kospot (2 June 2010). "First Steel Cut for Brazilian Submarine Programme". www.defpro.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
  10. ^ "Submarino "Riachuelo" reforça a soberania do País na Amazônia Azul". Brazilian Navy (in Portuguese). 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  11. ^ "Base de submarino nuclear começará a ser construída em fevereiro" (in Portuguese). Terra. 30 January 2010.
  12. ^ "O Prosub" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Marinha do Brasil PROSUB" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  14. ^ "NUCLEP na Cerimônia de Integração dos Submarinos Classe Riachuelo" (in Portuguese). 20 February 2018.
  15. ^ "Diferenças entre o submarino Scorpène e o S-BR brasileiro". Poder Naval (in Portuguese). 7 December 2018. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Programa Nuclear da Marinha" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Navy. Archived from the original on 4 August 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  17. ^ "Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro Alvaro Alberto (SN 10)" (in Portuguese). Defesa Aérea & Naval. 7 December 2012.
  18. ^ "O Prosub e o submarino nuclear brasileiro SN-BR" [The PROSUB and the Brazilian nuclear submarine SN-BR]. Poder Naval. 20 February 2018.
  19. ^ "Brazil launches first of 5 navy attack submarines". EFE. 14 December 2018.
  20. ^ "Submarino "Riachuelo" reforça a soberania do País na Amazônia Azul". Brazilian Navy (in Portuguese). 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 19 May 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Bolsonaro encabeza la botadura de otro submarino construido por Brasil y Francia". EFE. 11 December 2020.
  22. ^ "VÍDEO: Cerimônia de Mostra de Armamento do Submarino 'Humaitá' – S41" (in Portuguese). Poder Naval. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Tonelero: saiba como é o submarino lançado por Lula e Macron no RJ". G1. 27 March 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Marinha recebe o 3º e submarino convencional, lança o 4º e faz a transição para construir o nuclear". O Estado de S.Paulo (in Portuguese). 26 November 2025. Archived from the original on 26 November 2025.
  25. ^ a b c "La Marina de Brasil ya está lista para poner a flote al cuarto de sus nuevos submarinos de ataque clase Riachuelo". Zona Militar (in Spanish). 25 November 2025.
  26. ^ "PROSUB". Marinha do Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  27. ^ "La Marina de Brasil se alista para iniciar la construcción del submarino nuclear Álvaro Alberto en el año 2025". Zona Militar (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Brazilian SSN Alvaro Alberto to be commissioned in 2034". Navy Recognition. 4 June 2021.
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