Construction of Brazilian S-BR Scorpene class submarine launched

Posted by- Neelam Mathews

July 17, 2011

Even as contenders get set to respond to six diesel-electric submarines for the Indian Navy, DCNS and its partner Odebrecht, through their joint company ICN (Itaguaí Construções Navais), have launched the construction of the first S-BR Scorpene class submarine under the Brazilian submarine program.

Russia is said to be making a proposal to India for Amur 650 class submarines.

Meanwhile, the ‘first cut’ ceremony, marking the effective implementation of the technology transfer agreement, was held in Itaguaí, Brazil.

India is building six Scorpene submarines at  Mazgaon Dockyards Limited (MDL) under a deal with France's DCNS. Its submarine fleet consists of 16 submarines, about 13 of which are operational. 

The Brazilian program covers the design and construction of four Scorpene conventional-propulsion submarine submarines, design and construction assistance with the non-nuclear portion of Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine and support for the construction of a naval base and a naval shipyard.

The start of construction work in Brazil on the first S-BR Scorpene class submarine is an important milestone of the program. It demonstrates that the engineers, technicians and workers trained at DCNS in France have acquired all the necessary knowledge and skills, particularly the steel forming and welding techniques used in the construction of the pressure hull. That Brazil has the state-of-the-art industrial facilities needed to produce latest-generation submarine hulls, is also apparent. All aspects of the program are supervised by the Brazilian Navy, under a wide-ranging technology transfer agreement, says a statement.

The first of the four Scorpene-class conventional-propulsion submarines is scheduled to enter active service in 2017. These four submarines feature conventional diesel-electric propulsion. Their length overall is approximately 75 m, with a surface displacement of close to 2,000 tons. They will be operated by a crew of 30 to 45.

The four Scorpene conventional-propulsion submarines meet the particular specifications of the Brazilian Navy and are tailored to the protection and defense of Brazil’s 8,500-km coastline. They are highly versatile ocean patrol submarines, designed for all types of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, special operations and intelligence gathering.