21 June 2022
The Brazilian Navy (MB) and SPE Águas Azuis – Special Purpose Company composed by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defesa e Segurança and Atech – present, in an unprecedented way, on June 21, in thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul (tkEBS) in Itajaí-SC, the section of one of the machine squares of the future Fragata Classe Tamandaré. This verification model (Mockup) reproduces in real dimensions the said structure of the ship to be qualified by the Classification Society and by the standards and contractual requirements applicable, and thus start the manufacturing of the vessel this year.
The most modern and innovative naval project developed in the Country, the Programa Fragatas Classe Tamandaré (PFCT), conducted since 2017 by the Brazilian Navy, executed by Águas Azuis and managed by Empresa Gerencial de Projetos Navais (EMGEPRON), provide the built, in national territory, of four ships of high technological complexity.
The FCT are versatile and modern escorts, with high capabilities of mobility, permanence, communications, combat, surveillance and reaction, therefore, capable of a broad scope of employment and protection of the maritime area belonging to Brazil. Its features will allow the increment in the operations of search and rescue; will allow monitoring and combat actions of pollution, piracy, illegal fishing, among other threats, increasing the maritime safety in the Blue Amazon. With these ships, MB will be better capable to serve in eventual international commitments assumed by the foreign policy in a compatible manner with the size and insertion of Brazil in the international scenario.
The acquisition of these ships is part of the objectives of modernization of the Naval Force, more specifically the built of the Naval Power Center, which aims at renewing the Brazilian squadron. In addition to representing a joint effort for the development of the defense industrial base, training and improving the naval construction work force, and fostering the Defense National Industry.
The construction contract signed on March 05, 2020, between EMGEPRON, independent state company, linked to the Ministry of Defense via Navy Command, and the Special Purpose Company Águas Azuis.
Dimensions of the ship and benefits expected
The frigates count on features such as displacement of 3,380 t, length of 107m, maximum width of 16m, autonomy of 5.000 MN (9260km) to the cruise speed, maximum speed of 25,5knots (47,2 km/h) and a total crew of around 130 military personnel.
Programa Fragatas Classe “Tamandaré” predicts the transfer of technology and the training of companies and the Brazilian Navy (MB). It is a technology dominated by few countries and which incorporation to the national technological scope represents a step, not only for ensuring independence in the adaptive and evolutionary maintenance of the current and future naval means, but it will also bring important dual reflexes for applications in the national industry.
Developed based on a solid model of national partnership, the PFCT has potential of generating direct and indirect jobs of high qualification in Brazil from the transfer of technology and taxes of local content above 30% for the first ship, and 40% for the other vessels. It is provided the hiring of around 2000 direct workers, who will receive training in project and construction of warships of high technological complexity, in addition to the generation of about other 6000 indirect jobs.
From the perspective of the construction, the incorporation of the modern techniques of planning and concepts of naval construction, applied in the project of the established class MEKO of warships, property of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS), and its absorption and incorporation by a shipyard in national territory, with national labor employment and reflexes in the national maritime industrial maintenance, represent a strong contribution to innovation and maintenance of naval construction technology in the Country.
Special Purpose Company “Águas Azuis”
The companies integrating Águas Azuis have a solid and long relationship with Brazil, in addition to strong presence in many other countries. Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is providing naval technology of its well-known platform of defense ship construction of Class MEKO®, already used in 82 vessels in operation in Marines of 15 countries, among them Portugal, Greece, Australia, Argentina and Algeria.
Embraer Defesa e Segurança is responsible for integrating some sensors and weaponry to the combat system, incorporating to the Program its more than 50 years of experience in solutions of systems and support technology in service. On the other hand Atech, company from Grupo Embraer, expert in engineering and system integration, is responsible for the development of the Combat Management System (CMS), of the Tactical Data Link and by the activities of integration and Tests of the combat system, in partnership with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK, subsidiary of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and also Integration Platform Management System (IPMS), in partnership with L3Harris. Atech participates, in conjunction with the Brazilian Navy, of the Transfer of Technology process of these Systems, activity of great importance that will allow having access to the knowledge and tools to operate and maintain the ship systems in the future.
The naval alliance between thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and Embraer Defesa & Segurança will also allow creating bases for products export of naval defense from Brazil.
June 21, 2022.