The Riachuelo class are a Brazilian class of diesel-electric and nuclear-powered attack submarines developed by the state-owned shipyard Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN), based on the French as part of the Submarine Development Program.
History In 2008, the Presidents of Brazil and France, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nicolas Sarkozy, signed a strategic partnership to the construction of four conventionally-powered submarines, and the support for the development of the first Brazilian nuclear submarine, in a program called PROSUB.
The project was initiated in 2010 with the Madeira Island base in Rio de Janeiro as the submarine development and manufacturing point. Between 2010 and 2012, a group of 31 engineers, 25 officers and 6 civil employees, received theoretical training by the DCNS in Cherbourg, France. In 2018, more than 400 Brazilian engineers worked only on the nuclear submarine project staff, originally formed by the group that received training in France. The first stage of construction of the conventionally-powered Riachuelo took place in France, with the cutting of the first steel plates of the structure. At this point, technology transfer from French technicians to Brazilians began.
The conventional Brazilian boats are larger in length, tonnage and cargo capacity compared to the French Scorpène class they are derived from. The Brazilian version are and 1,900 tons, compared to the original Scorpènes that are and 1,565 tons.
Nuclear submarine As part of the program, a fifth submarine, named Álvaro Alberto, will be powered by nuclear propulsion. This unit has many similarities to its diesel powered predecessors of the Riachuelo class. The first Brazilian nuclear submarine will have a beam of to accommodate the pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR). Its length and 6,000-ton displacement will be propelled by a fully-electric propulsion system. Once the vessel is completed no fuel imports are needed as all fuel required for the life cycle is included in the reactor.
Boats The names of the conventional boats were selected to represent key Imperial Brazilian Navy's military operations during the Paraguayan War and the Platine War, and former Admiral Alfredo Karam. The nuclear boat honors the former Vice Admiral and scientist Álvaro Alberto da Motta e Silva. + Name Hull no. Launched Commissioned StatusRiachuelo classDiesel-electricS4014 Dec 20181 Sep 2022ActiveS4111 Dec 202012 Jan 2024ActiveS4227 Mar 202426 Nov 2025ActiveS4326 Nov 2025Sea trialsNuclearÁlvaro AlbertoSN10Under construction
Operational history
In May 2026, the submarine Humaitá exercised with the US Navy's aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and destroyer USS Gridley (DDG-101) near the coast of Rio de Janeiro as part of the Southern Seas 2026 joint exercises.
See also History of submarines Brazilian Submarine Force Command Future of the Brazilian Armed Forces s
References