Brazilian Navy has started sea trials of Riachuelo Scorpene-class submarine.

Brazilian navy has started the first sea trial of its Riachuelo submarine, a modified version of Scorpene-class diesel-electric submarine. Sea trials of the new Riachuelo submarine are scheduled to be performed until the first half of 2020, while the new submarine could be commissioned in October 2020.

First sea trials for the Riachuelo Scorpene-class submarine of Brazilian navy. (Picture source www.naval.com.br)

During the sea trials, Brazilian Navy has planned to launch mockup of Exocet SM39 Block 2 Mod 2 anti-ship missile and F21 Torpedo. The Riachuelo submarine is armed with six torpedo launching tubes, 18 heavy weapons, tube-launched MBDA SM-39 Exocet anti-ship missiles and precision-guided weapons. The weapons are carried in weapon launching tubes and can be easily reloaded at sea.

The F21 is a heavy-weight torpedo developed in France by DCNS (now Naval Group) for the French Navy. It features a range of over 50 kilometers and a top speed in excess of 50 knots. Its warhead is being designed to take out any kind of surface fighting ships and submarines while delivering outstanding safety standards needed for deployment aboard ballistic submarines.

The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The Exocet missile Block 2 Mod 2 has a maximum firing range of 72 km.

In December 2018, the Brazilian Navy has launched its first Brazilian-built Scorpène submarine, the Riachuelo. The ceremony took place at the Itaguaí Navy base in presence of the President of the Federal Republic of Brazil and of the elected President.

In 2009, French Company Naval Group was entrusted by the Brazilian Navy with designing and transferring the technology for four conventional Scorpène® submarines, and for the design and manufacturing assistance for the non-nuclear part of Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine. The contract also included the support for the construction of a naval base and a shipyard in Brazil.

The Scorpène-class submarines are a class of diesel-electric attack submarines jointly developed by the French Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN) and the Spanish company Navantia, and now by Naval Group. In 2008, the Brazilian Navy ordered four Scorpènes.

The propulsion system of Scorpène-class submarines consists of 4 x MTU 12V396 SE84 series diesel engines coupled with Kermount Industries 580kW generators. Sensors and processing will be made up of an acoustic surveillance system, digital-assisted attack, and dedicated analysis and monitoring hardware. The sonar system will be provided by Thales.