Marinha do Brasil to sign contract in February for four Tamandaré Class frigates.

The “Tamandaré Class” project, which is expected to consume up to US $ 2 billion, has made two important advances in recent weeks. At the end of November, the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) rejected the injunction and filed a complaint filed by the US Trade Union. The signing of the contract with the “Águas Azuis” consortium, is finally being scheduled for the second half of February.

The future Tamandaré-class corvette of the Brazilian Navy (Picture source: TKMS)

The Águas Azuis Consortium, formed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security and Atech, was selected by the Brazilian Navy for the construction of four defence ships in the Tamandaré Corvettes Class Program (CCT) as the preferred bidder. The result was announced on March 28th, 2019 and represents a new milestone for the country's maritime defence and naval industry.

The frigates will be in charge of protecting them against potential threats, ensuring the protection of maritime traffic and conducting search and rescue operations, as well as contributing to peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid.

The Brazilian Navy’s future corvettes have a total displacement of 3,455 tons, with a length of 107.2 m, a width of 15.95 m and a draft of 5.2 m. The two-shaft propulsion system will consist of four diesel engines MAN 12V 28/33 DSTC, electric power provided with four Caterpillar C32 diesel generators. The maximum speed of the design is 28 knots, economic – 14 knots. Weapons suite and sensor systems to be fitted on the class are presented in the images above.

In addition to the SeaCeptor, the corvettes are to be equipped with MBDA’s Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missile system, a Leonardo 76/62 main gun, a C-Guard decoy launcher and SEA’s torpedo launch system. They will also feature FN Herstal-delivered remote weapon stations.

The delivery schedule of the vessels runs from 2024 to 2028. With high technological capacity, these ships have great combat power. The objective is to control the Brazilian jurisdictional waters and the exclusive economic zone, which totals over 4.5 million square kilometres and known as the “Blue Amazon”, including the pre-salt fields.