Unveiling the Humaitá: Brazil’s Second Homegrown Scorpène® Submarine Sets Sail
On January 12th, the second of the four Scorpène® submarines within the ProSub program was officially commissioned by the Brazilian Navy at the Itaguaí Naval base, in the presence of José Mucio Monteiro, the Brazilian Minister of Defence, and Emmanuel Chiva, the French General Delegate for Armaments. The Humaitá has been entirely constructed in Brazil by Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN) through a Transfer of Technology from Naval Group.
The Humaitá has successfully concluded its maritime trials and has now been handed over and integrated into the Brazilian Navy. The initial submarine of the ProSub program, the Riachuelo, was inaugurated by the Brazilian Navy in September 2022. The other two submarines in the series, Tonelero and Angostura, are expected to be launched in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Pierre Éric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, remarked: “Today, in collaboration with the DGA from France, we celebrate the triumph of our partnership with ICN and our enduring relationship and cooperation with Brazil. The achievement of this program is collective, aimed at fortifying the Brazilian Navy and its industries, as well as enhancing the nation’s regional and global influence. We take pride in being part of the ProSub Program alongside all our partners. Our teams are dedicated to continually fulfilling the expectations of the Brazilian Navy.”
The delivery of the Humaitá exemplifies the successful technology transfer facilitated by Naval Group with ICN, the consortium’s joint ownership with Novonor, which equips the country with advanced apparatus manufactured within Brazil. This milestone also signifies Naval Group’s strong international presence and capability to cultivate substantial technology transfers as part of global collaborations.
Naval Group: A strategic ally of Brazilian sovereignty
In 2009, under the auspices of the French-Brazilian strategic defense cooperation agreement, the Brazilian Navy selected Naval Group for its Programme de développement de Submarins, also known as the ProSub program. Brazil opted to enhance its submarine capacity with four new conventional submarines (SSK) and the creation of a homegrown nuclear-powered submarine (SSN).
The Scorpène® submarines of the ProSub initiative are crafted and assembled at the shipyard established in Itaguaí by ICN. Naval Group has significantly contributed to this program by transferring technology, providing the submarine design files, equipment necessary for the submarines, and technical support. Staff from the ICN shipyard have also undergone training in submarine manufacturing techniques in France, as part of an extensive training initiative for Brazilian welders,
formers, pipe fitters, and electricians. This educational program, paired with technical assistance, empowers ICN to master the complete production process, from sheet metal shaping to commissioning and testing of onboard systems.
Naval Group has also identified and approved numerous local suppliers who have joined its supply chain for the ProSub agreement as well as other commercial opportunities. In this manner, the company’s partners can access new markets by leveraging the expertise and experience gained through the program. Naval Group thus plays a vital role in fostering a robust Brazilian naval industrial ecosystem. Hundreds of Naval Group personnel are also engaged in support roles across all French facilities.
Naval Group additionally aids the Brazilian Navy in the design and construction of the first Brazilian nuclear-powered submarine and will offer ongoing support beyond the construction phase through the entire lifecycle of the vessels.
Scorpène®: A premier standard of conventional attack submarines for navies
Scorpène® represents a modern, high-performance, and stealthy submarine. Durable and resilient, it is designed for deep-sea and shallow-water operations. As a multipurpose vessel, it fulfills a broad scope of missions such as Anti-Surface and Anti-Submarine Warfare, special operations, and intelligence activities. Highly stealthy and swift, it features a sophisticated level of operational automation, enabling a reduced crew size, which significantly lowers operational costs. Its combat capabilities are enhanced by the presence of six weapon launch tubes capable of carrying 18 ammunitions (torpedoes, missiles).
Scorpène® is outfitted with the latest generation combat system, SUBTICS®, which addresses the growing complexities of modern submarine operations in both blue and shallow waters across the entire spectrum of submarine warfare. Exceptionally modular and scalable, SUBTICS® can be integrated on new platforms or incorporated into modernization initiatives for existing submarines.
In addition to these four Scorpene® submarines, ten further units, tailored and developed by Naval Group for the export market, are either operational or under various stages of construction around the globe: two for the Chilean Navy, two for the Malaysian Navy, and six for the Indian Navy. These achievements affirm Naval Group’s capability to deliver top-tier submarines and effectively transfer technology.
The final design of the submarine is customized to cater to the specific requisites of the navies and incorporates recent technologies. For instance, the Brazilian Scorpene® will be slightly elongated compared to the standard model to accommodate a larger crew along with increased provisions for food and fuel. These adjustments will enable extended patrolling capabilities over greater distances.
All Brazilian Scorpène® submarines will be outfitted with Naval Group’s next-generation F21 heavyweight torpedo, making Brazil its first international client.
