Brazil Unveils Nuclear-powered Submarine Programme

摘要

Brazil has formally embarked on an effort to build South America's first nuclear-powered submarine. French shipbuilder DCNS will give design support on the hull and propulsion for the 6,000-ton class attack submarine, which will be armed with torpedoes and anti-ship missiles. Admiral Julio Soares de Moura Neto, the head of the Brazilian Navy, officially reopened the country's nuclear submarine programme with the creation of the General Co-ordination Programme for the Development of Nuclear Submarine Propulsion (Co-ordenadoria-Geral do Programa de Desenvolvimento do Submarino com Propulsao Nuclear - COGESN) on 26 September. The office, based in Rio de Janeiro, will be headed by Fleet Admiral (Reserve) Jose Alberto Accio-ly Fragelli. It will administer an annual budget of USD250 million; the new boat is to be completed in 12 years.