Brazilian submarine Álvaro Alberto

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Alvaro Alberto SSN.svg
Álvaro Alberto SSN profile
Class overview
NameÁlvaro Alberto
BuildersICN
Operators Brazilian Navy
CostUS$ 7.4 billion (program cost, 2020 est.)[1][2]
Built2018–early 2030s[3][4]
Planned1
Building1
General characteristics
TypeNuclear attack submarine
Displacement6,000 t[6]
Length100 m (330 ft)[6]
Beam9.8 m (32 ft)[6]
PropulsionBrazilian Multipurpose Reactor, 48 MW (64,000 hp)[7]
SpeedPlanned for 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)[9]
RangeUnlimited range, 10-25 years (nuclear fuel)[5]
EnduranceUnlimited in terms of propulsion, air and water, but otherwise typically 70-75 days, based on the amount of food carried and endurance of the crew[8]
Test depthPlanned for 350 m (1,148 ft 4 in)[9]
ComplementPlanned for 100[5]
Armament
  • 6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes:[8]
    • Cruise missiles
    • Anti-ship missiles
    • Heavy torpedoes
    • Naval mines

The Brazilian submarine Álvaro Alberto is a nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) under construction for the Brazilian Navy, by the Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN). The construction is part of the strategic partnership signed between France and Brazil in 2009, which also included the total transfer of technology and support for the construction of four enlarged conventionally-powered Scorpène-class submarines.[10][3]

The namesake of the class will be a tribute to the Navy vice admiral and scientist Álvaro Alberto da Motta e Silva, who was the responsible for the implementation of the Brazilian Nuclear Program.[11] Motta e Silva also served as President of the United Nations Atomic Energy Commission between 1946-47, and as President of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences for two terms, from 1935–37 and 1949–51.[12]

Brazil is the seventh country in the world, after the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China and India, to develop the technology for the construction of nuclear submarines.[13][8][14]

History[]

The Navy's nuclear submarine project dates back to the 1970s, more practically between 1976 and 1978. It was decided by program officials that the country should obtain the three vital processes.[5] The first point was the nuclear fuel cycle domain, known internally as the Ciclone project. Second the development of a nuclear reactor for use in the submarines, the Remo project. As a third point, the development of the knowledge to design and build a hull to accommodate the developing reactor, the Costado project.[15][5]

Fuel cycle domain[]

Angra nuclear power plant in the state of Rio de Janeiro

The beginning of the project for the domain of the fuel cycle and nuclear reactor took place in 1979, in that year, the Navy joined the IPEN-SP (Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research of Sao Paulo) where it started to work in most ambitious program in the country to date.[5] In 1982, the Navy won its first major victory after adopting the ultracentrifugation technique for enrichment and learning about uranium hexafluoride technology in the city of Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais. In the same year, the project researchers achieved isotopic uranium enrichment with centrifuges built entirely in Brazil.[15][5]

To support the experimental activities of the research and development program of the fuel cycle and nuclear reactors, the Aramar Experimental Center (CEA) was built in the state of Sao Paulo.[5] The center is home to testing facilities, experimental validation laboratories and some special workshops. It is also responsible for uranium enrichment on a small industrial scale, but sufficient to power existing nuclear research reactors in the country. Over a period of approximately 20 years, the country acquired the nuclear fuel cycle and was able to begin the construction of the naval nuclear reactor.[15][5]

Naval nuclear reactor[]

President Bolsonaro during the visit to the prototype of the naval nuclear reactor, October 2020

In 2014, after many years and a series of problems, delays in federal funding and program freezes, the first naval nuclear test reactor was built on land at the Aramar Experimental Center, with the aim of enabling the technological, industrial and operational processes of nuclear installations applicable to ship propulsion.[16][17] In 2018, the prototype of the naval nuclear reactor for the Álvaro Alberto, known as the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor was launched.[18]

Submarine hull[]

First Brazilian Scorpène submarine

At the beginning of the project in 1979, the Navy did not know the processes for the submarine hull construction. First it was necessary to acquire new and modern submarines that could be built in Brazil. The first submarines were the Type 209 class of German origin. In 1982, the country signed contracts for the construction of five new navy submarines, four of them on Brazilian territory, at the Rio de Janeiro Navy Arsenal. The country also invested in the modernization of its facilities and in the training of the national industry, as well human qualification.[15]

In 2009, Brazil purchased four enlarged Scorpène-class conventionally-powered submarines from France, for US$ 10 billion, with a total technology transfer agreement, giving to the country the knowledge for the design and construction of modern submarine hulls.[19] The first Brazilian Scorpène-class submarine, Riachuelo, was launched on 14 December 2018.[20][3]

The project was initiated in 2012 through the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB), with the Itaguaí base in Rio de Janeiro as the submarine development and manufacturing point. From 2010 to 2012, a group of 31 engineers, 25 officers and 6 civil employees, received theoretical training by the DCNS in Cherbourg. In 2018, more than 400 Brazilian engineers worked on the nuclear submarine project staff, originally formed by the group that received training in France.[3][21]

Strategic rationale[]

Brazilian exclusive economic zone

The Brazilian Navy modernization program plans the development and construction of six SSN submarines.[22] In the Brazilian doctrine, the raison d'etre of the national defense strategy is to develop strategic deterrence capability against "any hostile force" to the national land or sea territory.[23] The country understands that with its future nuclear fleet, at least some of its weapons will be able to survive the first strike (nuclear or non-nuclear) of an enemy and prevent further attempts at aggression.[24]

Another rationale is to support the defense of the so-called Blue Amazon (Portuguese: A Amazônia Azul),[25] a resource-rich area covering about 4,500,000 km2 (1,700,000 sq mi) off the Brazilian coast. This area is the country's exclusive economic zone, home to a huge diversity of marine species, valuable metallic minerals and other mineral resources, petroleum, and the world's second largest rare-earth reserve.[8][26]

Brazilian nuclear policy[]

Main article: Brazil and weapons of mass destruction

The country has a policy of no nuclear weapons since the 1990s.[27] Nonetheless, experts at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have concluded that Brazil developed the technological capability to field nuclear weapons, if this policy change,[28] using centrifuges like Resende to produce highly enriched uranium for this type of armament.[29][30] Instead, the country opted for working in the development of a nuclear submarine fleet.[31][32]

Characteristics[]

Álvaro Alberto has many similarities to his conventional predecessor of the Scorpène class. The first Brazilian nuclear submarine will have a beam of 9.8 m (32 ft) to accommodate the pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR).[33] Its 100 m (330 ft) length and 6,000-ton displacement will be propelled by a 48 MW (64,000 hp) fully-electric propulsion system.[34]

The advantages of an SSN over a conventionally powered SSK are much longer endurance (a nuclear submarine can stay submerged for months and does not need refueling), and higher speed. Unlike most SSKs, SSNs do not have to surface periodically for air, which would compromise their stealth.[35][36]

Their roles include intelligence gathering platforms, insertion and exfiltration of special forces teams in addition to traditional hunter-killer SSN roles. The most prominent roles of the SSNs, is the capability to launch cruise missiles, giving a significant overlap between cruise missile submarines (SSGN) and traditional attack submarines.[35][36]

Construction programme[]

Name No. Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Cost Status
Álvaro Alberto SN10 ICN, Madeira Island 2018[3] 2029[37] 2032 to 2034[2][4] US$ 7.4 billion[1][2] Under construction[3]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Atrasado pela crise, projeto do submarino nuclear já recebeu R$ 21 bilhões" (in Portuguese). Gazeta do Povo. 8 February 2018.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Programas da MB em 2019: PROSUB". Poder Naval (in Portuguese). 12 January 2020.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "O Prosub e o submarino nuclear brasileiro SN-BR" (in Portuguese). Poder Naval. 20 February 2018.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Brazilian SSN Alvaro Alberto to be commissioned in 2034". Navy Recognition. 4 June 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Programa Nuclear da Marinha" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c "PROSUB: NUCLEP e ICN avançam na construção do Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Poder Naval. 2 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro Alvaro Alberto (SN 10)" (in Portuguese). Defesa Aérea & Naval. 7 December 2012.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Brasil lanzó al mar un ultramoderno submarino para vigilar sus aguas" (in Spanish). La Nacion. 14 December 2019.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Base de submarino nuclear começará a ser construída em fevereiro" (in Portuguese). Terra. 30 January 2010.
  11. ^ "Um cientista, uma história, Almirante Álvaro Alberto da Motta e Silva". Defesa Aérea & Naval (in Portuguese). 10 December 2015.
  12. ^ "Álvaro Alberto da Mota e Silva". Academia Brasileira de Ciências (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Brazil launches first of five navy attack submarines". EFE. 14 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Brazil take first step in program to join nuclear-powered sub club". Reuters. 14 December 2018.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "O mais longo de todos os programas – parte 1". Poder Naval (in Portuguese). 2 December 2009.
  16. ^ "Primeiro submarino nuclear brasileiro será usado em 2023". Revista Galileu (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  17. ^ "Quem somos". CTMSP (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  18. ^ "LABGENE: Conhecendo a planta nuclear do Submarino de propulsão Nuclear brasileiro". Defesa Aérea & Naval (in Portuguese). 30 August 2018.
  19. ^ "Novos submarinos da MB: Senado aprova o empréstimo de 4,32 bilhões de euros" (in Portuguese). 2 September 2009.
  20. ^ "Com Temer e Bolsonaro, Marinha lança submarino Riachuelo" (in Portuguese). Veja. 14 December 2019.
  21. ^ "O Prosub" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Brazilian Navy - Marinha do Brasil - Modernization". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  23. ^ "Estratégia Nacional de Defesa". Ministério da Defesa do Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  24. ^ "Brazilian Navy - Marinha do Brasil - Modernization". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  25. ^ "Brazilian nuclear policy under Bolsonaro: no nuclear weapons, but a nuclear submarine". The Bulletin. 12 April 2019.
  26. ^ "Brasil tem segunda maior reserva mundial de terras raras, mas não aparece entre os maiores produtores" (in Portuguese). O Globo. 30 May 2019.
  27. ^ "Presidency of the Republic, Deputy Chief of Legal Affairs - Decree No. 2864 from 7 December 1998". Presidency of the Republic. 7 December 1998.
  28. ^ Brazil and the Bomb Archived 2010-06-01 at the Wayback Machine German Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved on 2011-10-23.
  29. ^ How Brazil Spun the Atom Archived 2009-08-22 at the Wayback Machine Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Retrieved on 2010-10-06.
  30. ^ Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): Resende Nuclear Fuel Factory (FCN) Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 2010-10-06.
  31. ^ "Programa Nuclear da Marinha" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  32. ^ "Brazilian nuclear policy under Bolsonaro: no nuclear weapons, but a nuclear submarine". The Bulletin. 12 April 2019.
  33. ^ "Programa Nuclear da Marinha" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Navy. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  34. ^ "Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro Alvaro Alberto (SN 10)" (in Portuguese). Defesa Aérea & Naval. 7 December 2012.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b "Nuclear versus diesel-electric: the case for conventional submarines". The Strategist. 11 July 2017.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b "How do nuclear-powered submarines work? A nuclear scientist explain". Science AU. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  37. ^ "Projeto para construção de submarino nuclear brasileiro está adiantado", diz Chefe do Estado-Maior da Armada na ACSP". Defesa Aerea e Naval (in Portuguese). 2 July 2021.
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