Brazil to join nuclear-powered sub club

Within a decade Brazil could become just the seventh nation with a nuclear-powered submarine, the culmination of an $8.9bn programme that includes five attack submersibles built with French technology


Riachuelo (S40): First of four modified versions of Scorpène class diesel-powered submarine, built by Brazilian Navy to design of French shipbuilder Naval Group

Length: 71.6m
Displacement: 1,870 tonnes
Speed: 20 knots (37km/h)
Diving depth: 350m
Endurance: Up to 45 days

Riachuelo: Begins sea trials 2019
Humaitá (S41)
Tonelero (S42)
Angostura (S43)
All four to be in service by 2023


SN Álvaro Alberto (SN-10)
Launch date: 2029 (est.)

Length: 100m
Hull diameter: 9.8m
Displacement: 6,000 tonnes
Speed: 27 knots (50km/h)
Diving depth: 350m
Crew: 100

Pressurised water reactor (PWR): Developed in Brazil. 50MW
Coolant outlet
Fuel assembly
Reactor vessel
Armament: Heavyweight torpedoes or Exocet missiles
Control rods
Coolant intlet


Submarines will patrol Brazil’s 3.5m sq-km off-shore deep waters containing vast oil and gas reserves

BRAZIL
Itaguai
ATLANTIC OCEAN


Sources: PROSUB, IHS Markit 
Picture: Associated Press 
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