Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
3 min of reading 
2 comments 
Navy Advances in the Construction of Brazil’s First Nuclear Submarine and Begins Work on the Álvaro Alberto Submarine.
The Navy advances in the construction of Brazil’s first nuclear submarine by announcing, on Wednesday (26), the official transition to the most complex stage of the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB).
The announcement took place at the Naval Complex in Itaguaí (RJ), where the agency presented the conventional submarine Almirante Karam (S43) and showcased the armament of the Tonelero (S42).
Transition to the Nuclear Submarine Marks the Most Important Moment of PROSUB
The presentation of S43 and the advancements on S42 confirm that the Navy is making progress in the construction of Brazil’s first nuclear submarine with the completion of the development cycle of conventional vessels.
-
How a 131-ton, 11-meter propeller supports 90% of global trade and transforms the largest container ships on the planet.
-
With a length of 225 meters and a capacity of 76 thousand tons, this ship “sinks” its own deck down to 28 meters deep to accommodate war destroyers, oil platforms, and giant radars floating above, and then emerges with everything intact on top like a colossal tray crossing oceans.
-
A 100-meter platform without a motor, without a keel, and operating upside down rotates 90 degrees in the ocean, sinks 75 meters, and drifts around Antarctica for two years driven by the planet’s most powerful current to study the largest carbon sink on Earth, still poorly understood by science for accurate climate modeling.
-
With a length of 108 meters and a giant spoon shape, the FLIP was the only ship in the world capable of rotating 90 degrees in the ocean and remaining vertical, with 91 meters submerged, operating for 60 years until it was retired and sent to the scrapyard in 2023.
Now, PROSUB, developed in partnership with Naval Group from France, enters the most sensitive and technological phase of the program: the total concentration on the construction of the nuclear submarine Álvaro Alberto.
This new phase will be conducted at the Itaguaí shipyard, where preparations for the initial structural stages of the vessel are already beginning, focusing initially on the stern.
According to the Navy, this is a decisive moment because it involves technologies that only five countries master: the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom.
Thus, Brazil will become the first country in the southern hemisphere capable of designing and manufacturing a nuclear-powered submarine.
Álvaro Alberto Submarine: Why Is It So Strategic for Brazil
The Navy advances in the construction of Brazil’s first nuclear submarine because the vessel will represent an unprecedented leap in autonomy and naval power.
Expected to enter service starting in 2034, the Álvaro Alberto will have nuclear propulsion based on a pressurized water reactor, the most commonly used model in the world and considered highly safe.
The construction involves complex challenges of electromechanical systems and control structures that will form the technological heart of the submarine.
The advancement is the result of decades of national research.
This energy density allows the submarine to operate submerged for long periods without the need for refueling.
Autonomy, Surveillance, and Defense: The Advantages of Nuclear Technology
With the Álvaro Alberto, Brazil’s deterrence capability will increase significantly.
Nuclear submarines have far superior autonomy compared to conventional vessels, allowing for prolonged missions of defense, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Furthermore, the Navy points out that the developed technology will reduce dependence on foreign suppliers in sensitive areas of the defense industry.
This opens up possibilities for future exports, strengthening the national industry.
Brazil Reaches a New Level on the International Scene
As the Navy advances in the construction of Brazil’s first nuclear submarine, the country also increases its strategic relevance on the global stage.
The Álvaro Alberto submarine honors one of the main architects of the Brazilian nuclear program and symbolizes the historical effort for technological sovereignty.
Thus, when it enters service, it will place Brazil alongside the world’s major naval powers.
For the Navy, PROSUB represents more than a military advancement.
It is a vector for innovation, generation of highly qualified jobs, and strengthening of the defense industrial base.
Thus, the country inaugurates a maritime and technological prominence that will have a direct impact on national security and Brazil’s international projection in the coming decades.
Tadinho doa gaduinos!!!! Kkkkkk engracado q de tao militares e patriotas q sao…nada fizeram pelo exercito, marinha e aeronautica!!! Me corrijam se falei besteira
Tudo muito bonito mas a Marinha sozinha não faz nada. Quem decide e financia é o governo federal, no caso, o Presidente Lula que lançou o PROSUB em 2008, assinou o contrato de transferência de tecnologia de tecnologia com o Presidente francês Sarkozy, e providenciou os bilhões de reais necessários à construção da fabrica e do estaleiro de submarinos brasileiros e ao financiamento da construção desses quatro submersíveis convencionais, os primeiros a serem construídos no Brasil.