Brazil commissions first Riachuelo-class S-BR submarine

The Brazilian Navy commissioned the first-of-class Riachuelo-class conventional submarine, S Riachuelo, on 1 September. (Brazilian Navy)

The Brazilian Navy commissioned its first-of-class Riachuelo-class diesel-electric attack submarine, S Riachuelo (S-40), on 1 September.

The general director of the Directorate-General for Nuclear and Technological Development of the Navy (DGDNTM), Fleet Admiral Petrónio Augusto Siqueira de Aguiar, signed with Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN) and Naval Group the provisional receipt and acceptance confirmation for S Riachuelo on 26 August.

Launched on 14 December 2018, S Riachuelo was originally scheduled to enter active service in 2017.

The submarine underwent a range of trials, including the launch of the MBDA Exocet SM39 Block 2 Mod 2 anti-ship missile and the Naval Group F21 heavyweight torpedo.

Itaguaí Construções Navais, a joint venture set up by Naval Group and Novonor to build S Riachuelo, is under contract to build three additional similar Scorpène submarines, dubbed type S-BR, at the Itaguaí Naval Complex, State of Rio de Janeiro.

The second boat S Humaitá (S-41) is undergoing trials, and the remaining two boats S Tonelero (S-42) and S Angostura (S-43) are in different stages of construction.

The ocean-patrol submarines are designed for a full range of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, special operations, and intelligence gathering.

The fleet is scheduled to be fielded by the Submarine Force Command from the Ilha da Madeira Submarine Base, located at the Itaguaí Naval Complex.

Besides the Riachuelo-class submarines, the PROSUB also oversees the local production of the Álvaro Alberto nuclear-powered submarine; the acquisition of torpedoes and decoys; and the construction of the metallic structures manufacturing unit, a shipyard, maintenance facilities, a radiological complex, and a naval base.

S Riachuelo