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Tamandaré Class Frigate Program: The R$ 9.5 Billion Project to Renew the Brazilian Navy’s Fleet May Stall Due to Lack of Federal Funding.
Considered essential for the renewal of the Brazilian Navy‘s fleet, the Tamandaré Class Frigate Program is at risk of being halted due to a lack of financial resources. According to Gazeta do Povo, the federal government has not yet transferred the R$ 3 billion needed to ensure the continuation of the work at the thyssenkrupp Brasil Sul shipyard, located in Itajaí (SC).
The absence of this investment jeopardizes the project’s continuity and could lead to the shutdown of activities at the shipyard, which would negatively impact the naval sector and threaten thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Stoppage May Directly Impact 2 Thousand Workers
At the thyssenkrupp Brasil Sul shipyard in Santa Catarina, about 2,000 professionals work directly on the construction of state-of-the-art frigates.
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With the delay in federal funding, mass layoffs have become a real threat. It is estimated that these dismissals could occur by December if the resources do not arrive in time to maintain the production schedule.
According to Gabriela Kelm, Secretary of Economic Development of Itajaí:
“Without the funding, 2,000 people will automatically be unemployed in December.”
Navy Bets on Ships with High Technological Capability
The Tamandaré Class Frigate Program aims to build four modern and highly technological warships.
The total investment for the project is around R$ 9.5 billion, and its execution is under the responsibility of the Águas Azuis consortium, formed by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security, and Atech, with supervision from EMGEPRON (Naval Project Management Company).
Each vessel will be 107 meters long, capable of displacing up to 3,500 tons, and will operate with a crew of up to 130 military personnel.
With sophisticated armaments — including missiles, torpedoes, guns, and state-of-the-art sensors — the frigates will be essential to strengthen Brazil’s presence in its jurisdictional waters, known as “Blue Amazon.”
First Frigate Launched; Three Others in Production
The inaugural vessel of the program, named “Tamandaré” (F200), was launched in 2024, with delivery expected by the end of 2025.
The other three frigates — “Jerônimo de Albuquerque” (F201), “Cunha Moreira” (F202), and “Mariz e Barros” (F203) — are at different stages of construction, with completion and delivery expected by the end of this decade.
More than a thousand suppliers from various sectors of the national industry are connected to the Tamandaré Class Frigate Program, which expands its economic impact beyond the naval industry.
It is estimated that, combining direct and indirect jobs, the program has already generated over 8,000 jobs across the country.
Promise of Resources Yet to Materialize
During a visit to the shipyard in August 2024, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the release of the necessary funds to ensure the continuity of the program.
However, the promised amount has not yet been transferred, creating insecurity among local leaders, involved professionals, and supplying companies.
The continuation of the Tamandaré Class Frigate Program is seen as essential for national sovereignty and for strengthening the defense industry.
The deadlock, if not urgently resolved, may hinder the technological advancement of the sector and compromise the operational capacity of the Brazilian Navy in the coming years.
Source: Gazeta do Povo
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