First Latin-American Nuclear Submarine to Be Built by Brazil and Argentina

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Brazzilmagazine

First Latin-American Nuclear Submarine to Be Built by Brazil and Argentina
Written by Newsroom
Tuesday, 26 February 2008

The Brazilian government says that Brazil will start working jointly with Argentina in the construction of a nuclear submarine, the first in Latin America, to be built using French technology, according to reports in the Buenos Aires press.

For that purpose, a binational company would be formed, to develop a small-size reactor already created by Argentina's INVAP technology institute and to be installed in conventional French designed Scorpene class submarines.

Earlier this month, France had agreed to provide Brazil with technology to build an attack submarine, but dismissed the possibility of any nuclear technology transfer. Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said that this project would also be useful in the construction of nuclear energy plants.

During a visit to Argentina, Brazilian Defense Minister, Nelson Jobim, said that "we have talked with Defense Minister, Nilda Garré, and three Argentine commanders with whom we agreed to create a binational company to develop the compact nuclear small-sized reactor" to be used in a locally made submarine, said the minister in an interview with Argentina's daily newspaper Clarín.

Before returning to Brazil from last week's energy summit the minister said that the military project also has civil purposes: "This technology will allow us to build energy plants with the capacity to supply big cities."




Read more: http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/9145/

[hack89]

1. This is stupid

from a military point of view - a modern diesel electric submarine with an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system works just as good and a lot less cheaper to buy and operate. Nukes are noisy compared to diesel electrics and the AIP system still allows the sub to stay down for days if not weeks.

this is what they need:

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/type_212/


AIP:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air-independent_propulsion

[Thothmes]

2. Fully agree, in addition

Nuclear submarines require highly specialized trained nuclear engineers at all times. This alone makes them more costly than a DE submarine.