Brazilian submarine development program advances with nuclear reactor assembly.

The start of the assembly of the Nuclear Propulsion Prototype Reactor of the Brazilian Submarine Development Program (PROSUB) was celebrated last Wednesday 21st of October, at the Experimental Center Aramar located in Iperó, São Paulo.
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

The start of the assembly of the Nuclear Propulsion Prototype Reactor of the Brazilian Submarine Development Program (PROSUB) was celebrated last Wednesday 21st of October, at the Experimental Center Aramar located in Iperó, São Paulo (Picture source: Brazilian MoD)

The ceremony, held at the Nuclearelectric Generation Laboratory (LABGENE) complex, represents the beginning of an important stage of PROSUB, which is part of the Navy Nuclear Program (PNM). This is because the assembly of the reactor will be replicated in the construction of the first Brazilian submarine with nuclear propulsion, the “Álvaro Alberto”.

In the next phases of the program, the reactor, as well as the turbogenerators, the electric motor and other systems similar to those of a nuclear powered submarine will be tested in a controlled manner at LABGENE. The purpose is to validate the operation of the reactor and the various electromechanical systems integrated with it, prior to installation on the submarine.

After the tests are completed, a similar reactor will be installed in the submarine Álvaro Alberto, projected in the Naval Complex of Itaguaí, in Rio de Janeiro. It is in Itaguaí that the four submarines with diesel-electric propulsion are developed, also foreseen in the PROSUB: the Riachuelo (S-40), already launched, the Humaitá (S-41), the Tonelero (S-42) and Angostura ( S-43).

PNM and PROSUB are part of Brazilian Defense Programs and foster the country's capacity to design, build, operate and maintain nuclear powered submarines. With this, Brazil will integrate the list of five countries with these competencies: United States, United Kingdom, France and China.

The Brazilian Minister of Defense, Fernando Azevedo, accompanied the President of the Republic, Jair Bolsonaro, during the ceremony, which also counted on the presence of the Navy Commander, Admiral Ilques Barbosa (Picture source : Brazilian MoD)