Navy Begins Sea Trials of Submarine Riachuelo

Navy Begins Series of Tests on First Submarine of the Class, Sea Trials Are Expected to Last Until the First Half of Next Year

After being launched into the sea on December 14 of last year at the naval base of Itaguaí, the submarine “Riachuelo” of the Brazilian Navy began its sea trial yesterday (09/25) from the naval base of Itaguaí, in Rio de Janeiro.
The Riachuelo submarine (S40) is the first of four diesel-electric attack submarines S-BR (modified Scorpène class) from the Submarine Development Program (Prosub).

According to the Navy’s schedule, the sea trials will take place until the first half of 2020, and the commissioning of the submarine is scheduled for October 2020.
In addition to the submarine’s equipment being subjected to tests, the Brazilian Navy also plans to launch a heavy torpedo F21 of 533 mm from Naval Group and a mock-up of an anti-ship missile MBDA Exocet SM39 Block 2 Mod 2 during the sea trials.

In addition to the “Riachuelo”, the Prosub program provides for the construction of 3 more conventionally powered submarines, the Humaitá (S41), with launch expected in 2020, the Tonelero (S42) in 2021, and the Angostura (S43) in 2022.
There is also a project under development for a fifth submarine that will be powered by nuclear energy.

The Second Hull

ICN, Itaguaí Naval Construction, responsible for the construction of the submarines, has already completed the transfer of the four sections of the second submarine of the series that were built at the UFEM factory, also in Itaguaí.

The sections were the last to be received at ICN, and now the shipyard will begin the final joining phase of the sections aimed at closing the hull of the vessel, which will be named “Humaitá”.

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