The Brazilian Navy marked a significant milestone on June 12 with the commencement of the construction of its conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine, Álvaro Reis. This crucial step, taking place at the Itaguaí Naval Complex in Rio de Janeiro, underscores Brazil’s commitment to enhancing its naval power and national defense capabilities.
On this day, the Navy successfully executed the first steel cut for the submarine’s hull, a critical activity in the construction process, particularly for the preliminary Section C. This event signifies the beginning of the hull’s construction, setting the stage for the assembly of the submarine’s main structures.
The Brazilian Navy’s ambitious project is part of the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB), initiated in 2008. This program aims to modernize the country’s submarine fleet, protect Brazil’s extensive maritime territory, known as the Blue Amazon, and ensure national sovereignty at sea. The PROSUB program has already seen the successful completion of several submarines, including the Riachuelo (S40), Humaitá (S41), and Tonelero (S42), with another conventional submarine, the Angostura (S43), also in the pipeline.
Despite these advancements, the project has not been without controversy. A recent article by Georgetown University in the United States raised concerns about the true objectives behind Brazil’s nuclear-powered submarine initiative. The article suggests that the substantial investment in the Álvaro Alberto submarine may hint at ambitions beyond civilian use of nuclear energy. It compares Brazil’s efforts to similar projects in Australia, implying that Brazil might be pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities.
According to the article, the initiation of the construction process, marked by the recent steel cutting event, has largely gone unnoticed by the international community. It speculates that the high costs associated with building the Álvaro Alberto could indicate hidden motives, reflective of Brazil’s persistent foreign policy ambitions and the nature of its civil-military relations.
In response, the Brazilian Navy has maintained that the primary goals of the PROSUB program are defensive. They emphasize the importance of modernizing the submarine fleet to safeguard Brazil’s maritime interests and ensure the security of the Blue Amazon. The program is a collaborative effort, involving universities, research institutes, and national industry, aimed at advancing Brazil’s naval technology and capabilities.
The construction of the Álvaro Reis submarine is expected to be completed by 2025. As Brazil continues to make strides in its naval development, it remains to be seen how the international community will react to these advancements and whether the concerns raised by the Georgetown University article will impact Brazil’s relations with other nations.
