Brazilian submarine Álvaro Alberto

Álvaro Alberto, Brazil's first nuclear-powered attack submarine, is part of a strategic partnership signed between France and Brazil on 23 December 2008 by then-presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Nicolas Sarkozy, that created the Submarine Development Program, a naval modernization plan of the Brazilian Armed Forces. The boat is the fifth unit of the Riachuelo-class, based on the French Scorpène-class.^[13][4] The submarine is being constructed by the Brazilian state-owned naval company ICN.

Artist's rendering of the future Álvaro Alberto
History
Brazil
Name	Álvaro Alberto
Namesake	Álvaro Alberto da Motta e Silva
Ordered	23 December 2008^[2]^[3]
Builder	ICN, Madeira Island, Itaguaí
Cost	USD ~7 billion (FY 2018)^[6]
Laid down	2018^[4]
Launched	2029^[1]
Commissioned	2032 to 2034^[4]^[5]
Homeport	Madeira Island
Identification	SN10
Status	Under construction^[4]
General characteristics
Type	Nuclear attack submarine
Displacement	6,000 t (5,900 long tons)^[8]
Length	100 m (330 ft)^[8]
Beam	9.8 m (32 ft)^[8]
Propulsion	1 × Pressurized water reactor, 48 MW (64,000 hp),^[9] LEU 20%^[10] 1 × Nuclear turbo-electric engine
Speed	25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph)^[12]
Range	Unlimited range, up to 25 years (nuclear fuel)^[7]
Complement	100^[7]
Armament	6 × 533 mm (21 in) torpedo tubes:^[11] Cruise missiles Anti-ship missiles Heavy torpedoes Naval mines

Once Álvaro Alberto is completed, Brazil will be the seventh country in the world to field nuclear submarines.^{[11][14][15][A]}

Álvaro Alberto was named after the former Brazilian Navy vice admiral and scientist Álvaro Alberto da Motta e Silva, who was the responsible for the implementation of the country's nuclear program.^[17] He 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.^[18][19]

History

The Navy's nuclear submarine project dates back to the 1970s. It was decided by program officials at the time that Brazil should obtain the three vital processes before start the construction of a nuclear submarine.^[7] The nuclear fuel cycle domain, the development of a modern submarine hull, finally the development of a national nuclear reactor for naval purposes, called internally as Ciclone, Costado and Remo projects respectively.^[20]

Fuel cycle domain

The beginning of the project for the domain of the nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear reactors took place in 1979, in that year, under the military regime with leadership of the Army general Ernesto Geisel and later general João Figueiredo, two enthusiasts of the nuclear technology,^[21] the government secretly joined the Institute of Energy and Nuclear Research of Sao Paulo (IPEN) where it started to work in the most ambitious military program to date.^[7] In 1982, the scientists 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.^[20][7] Over a period of approximately 20 years, the country acquired the full nuclear fuel cycle and was able to begin the construction of the naval nuclear reactor.^[20][7][22]

Submarine hull

See also: Scorpène-class submarine and Submarine Development Program

 

Álvaro Alberto from rear

On 23 December 2008, Brazil purchased four Scorpène-class conventionally-powered submarines from France in a deal of USD 10 billion, with a total technology transfer agreement, giving to the country the knowledge for the design and construction of modern submarine hulls.^[23] The first Brazilian Scorpène-class submarine, Riachuelo, was launched on 14 December 2018.^[24][4] The project was initiated in 2010 through the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB), 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 six 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.^[4][25]

Nuclear fuel and reactor

 

President Jair Bolsonaro and the prototype of the naval nuclear reactor, October 2020

In 2018, after many years and a series of problems, delays in federal funding and program freezes, the prototype of the naval nuclear reactor, known internally as the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor or LABGENE was launched, by the state-owned nuclear company Nuclebrás.^[26] In 2020, the General Directorate of Nuclear and Technological Development of the Navy (DGDNTM), authorized the production and testing of uranium dioxide pellets for zircaloy rods, essential for pressurized water nuclear reactors.^[27] The production of nuclear fuel for the Álvaro Alberto started in December 2021.^[27] On 6 June 2022, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, stated that Brazil has initiated formal discussions with IAEA about Alvaro Alberto's nuclear fuel inspections by the international agency.^[28]

Brazilian strategic rationale

 

Brazilian exclusive economic zone

The Brazilian Navy modernization program plans the development and construction of six nuclear submarines.^[29] In the Brazilian doctrine, the raison d'etre of the national defense strategy is to develop deterrence capability against a possible hostile force to the national territory.^[30] The country understands that with its future nuclear fleet, at least some of its weapons will be able to survive the first strike of an enemy and prevent further attempts at aggression.^[31] Another rationale is to support the defense of the so-called Blue Amazon (Portuguese: A Amazônia Azul),^[22] 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.^[11][32]

National nuclear policy

Main article: Brazil and weapons of mass destruction

The country has a policy of no nuclear weapons since the 1990s.^[33] Nonetheless, experts at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have concluded that Brazil developed the technological capability to produce first generation nuclear warheads.^[34][35] If the country's current policy on this type of armament should change, Brazil would be able to produce highly enriched uranium using centrifuges like Resende for this type of armament.^[35][36] Instead, the country opted for working on the development of a nuclear submarine fleet.^[7][22] So far in the naval history, only the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: the US, Russia, China, France and the UK, plus India – all nuclear-weapon states – have operated & developed nuclear submarines.^[37] The organization Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists described Brazil as "the only non-nuclear weapon state on the verge of launching a nuclear-powered submarine".^[22] Carlo Patti, author of Brazil in the Global Nuclear Order, told newspaper The Economist, that Brazil's nuclear pursuit placed the country "in the threshold between being a nuclear state and not being a nuclear state".^[38] That policy, say experts, turned Brazil independent in the nuclear technology's field and allowed to "keep its international reputation as a responsible power among institutions for nuclear nonproliferation".^[22][38]

Characteristics

Álvaro Alberto has many similarities to the preceding 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).^[39] 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.^[9]

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.^[40][41] 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.^[40][41]

Espionage allegations

In March 2022, The New York Times newspaper reported that US Navy employee Jonathan Toebbe and his wife Diana had approached the Brazilian embassy in Washington D.C., with an offer to sell nuclear secrets about the Virginia-class submarine to Brazilian military to aid in the development of the country's nuclear submarine program. Brazilian authorities then informed the FBI, which conducted an investigation culminating in the Toebbe's arrest for espionage; they pleaded guilty. Neither the American nor the Brazilian government have confirmed or denied the report.^[42][43]

Notes

1. As of 2022^[update], other operators of nuclear submarines include the United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France, China and India.^[16]

References

1. "Launch prediction". Marinha do Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 January 2022.
2. "DECRETO Nº 8.630, DE 30 DE DEZEMBRO DE 2015". Brazil Gov. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
3. Nicolas von Kospot (2 June 2010). . www.defpro.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
4. "O Prosub e o submarino nuclear brasileiro SN-BR" [The PROSUB and the Brazilian nuclear submarine SN-BR]. Poder Naval. 20 February 2018.
5. "Brazilian SSN Alvaro Alberto to be commissioned in 2034". Navy Recognition. 4 June 2021.
6. "Atrasado pela crise, projeto do submarino nuclear já recebeu R$ 21 bilhões" (in Portuguese). Gazeta do Povo. 8 February 2018.
7. "Programa Nuclear da Marinha" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
8. "PROSUB: NUCLEP e ICN avançam na construção do Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Poder Naval. 2 August 2019.
9. "Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro Alvaro Alberto (SN 10)" (in Portuguese). Defesa Aérea & Naval. 7 December 2012.
10. "Convênio busca locais para a instalação de novas usinas nucleares no Brasil". CNN Brazil (in Portuguese). 15 January 2022.
11. "Brasil lanzó al mar un ultramoderno submarino para vigilar sus aguas" (in Spanish). La Nacion. 14 December 2019.
12. "Submarino Nuclear Brasileiro" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 August 2019.
13. "Base de submarino nuclear começará a ser construída em fevereiro" (in Portuguese). Terra. 30 January 2010.
14. "Brazil launches first of five navy attack submarines". EFE. 14 December 2019.
15. "Brazil take first step in program to join nuclear-powered sub club". Reuters. 14 December 2018.
16. . Center for Nonproliferation Studies. Archived from the original on 13 February 2006. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
17. "Um cientista, uma história, Almirante Álvaro Alberto da Motta e Silva". Defesa Aérea & Naval (in Portuguese). 10 December 2015.
18. "Álvaro Alberto da Mota e Silva". Academia Brasileira de Ciências (in Portuguese). Retrieved 5 August 2019.
19. Vijay Sakhuja (2011). Asian Maritime Power in the 21st Century: Strategic Transactions : China, India and Southeast Asia. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2011. p. 290. ISBN 9789814311090.
20. "O mais longo de todos os programas – parte 1". Poder Naval (in Portuguese). 2 December 2009.
21. "Documentos apontam corrida nuclear na América Latina durante a ditadura". O Globo. 23 March 2014.
22. "Brazilian nuclear policy under Bolsonaro: no nuclear weapons, but a nuclear submarine". The Bulletin. 12 April 2019.
23. "Novos submarinos da MB: Senado aprova o empréstimo de 4,32 bilhões de euros" (in Portuguese). 2 September 2009.
24. "Com Temer e Bolsonaro, Marinha lança submarino Riachuelo" (in Portuguese). Veja. 14 December 2019.
25. "O Prosub" (in Portuguese). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
26. "LABGENE: Conhecendo a planta nuclear do Submarino de propulsão Nuclear brasileiro". Defesa Aérea & Naval (in Portuguese). 30 August 2018.
27. "La Marina de Brasil avanza en el desarrollo y producción de combustible nuclear". Zona Militar (in Spanish). 6 January 2022.
28. "IAEA Director General's Introductory Statement to the Board of Governors". IAEA. 6 June 2022.
29. "Brazilian Navy - Marinha do Brasil - Modernization". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
30. "Estratégia Nacional de Defesa". Ministério da Defesa do Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved 7 September 2019.
31. "Brazilian Navy - Marinha do Brasil - Modernization". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
32. "Brasil tem segunda maior reserva mundial de terras raras, mas não aparece entre os maiores produtores" (in Portuguese). O Globo. 30 May 2019.
33. "Presidency of the Republic, Deputy Chief of Legal Affairs - Decree No. 2864 from 7 December 1998". Presidency of the Republic. 7 December 1998.
34. Brazil and the Bomb 2010-06-01 at the Wayback Machine German Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved on 2011-10-23.
35. How Brazil Spun the Atom 2009-08-22 at the Wayback Machine Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Retrieved on 2010-10-06.
36. Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD): Resende Nuclear Fuel Factory (FCN) Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved on 2010-10-06.
37. "Brazil initiates talks with IAEA on fuel for planned nuclear submarine". Reuters. June 6, 2022.
38. "Brazil might get nuclear-powered submarines even before Australia". Economist. September 30, 2021.
39. "Programa Nuclear da Marinha" (in Portuguese). Brazilian Navy. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
40. Ohff, Hans J. (11 July 2017). "Nuclear versus diesel-electric: the case for conventional submarines". The Strategist. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
41. Mitchell, AJ (16 September 2021). "How do nuclear-powered submarines work? A nuclear scientist explains". The Conversation. Australian National University. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
42. Barnes, Julian E.; Spigariol, André; Nicas, Jack; Goldman, Adam (15 March 2022). "Submarine Spy Couple Tried to Sell Nuclear Secrets to Brazil". New York Times.
43. Yang, Maya (16 March 2022). "Brazil was alleged intended recipient of US couple's nuclear submarine secrets". The Guardian.