Posted on 12/13/2006 4:29:04 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
New diesel U-boat for Brazil, nuclear goal fades
By Andrei Khalip
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The Brazilian navy has chosen Germany's HDW-ThyssenKrupp to build a new conventional submarine and upgrade its underwater fleet.
But the draft deal worth $1.4 billion means the postponement of the military's goal of producing its own nuclear-powered sub.
Brazil's five submarines are all based on the same firm's diesel-electrical IKL-209 model. The new IKL-214 has an improved design but is far from the concept of a teardrop-shaped hull of a nuclear submarine built to operate for years undetected without resurfacing.
"From the point of view of public policy and spending, by buying one thing you postpone the other," said Domicio Proenca, a defense expert at the Rio de Janeiro Federal University.
Defense experts said it was unlikely Brazil would try to put a reactor on the IKL, although such proposals exist.
Brazil, which has large uranium reserves, recently joined a small group of countries that possess the whole cycle of technology to process uranium and make nuclear fuel, achieved to a great extent thanks to navy researchers. Nuclear bomb research is banned by the constitution.
In a written reply to Reuters, the navy said years of underfunding of a navy program for a nuclear reactor capable of powering a submarine has led to a "progressive postponement of the horizon" for a complete nuclear submarine project.
Financing issues are so pressing that in May, navy chief Adm. Roberto de Guimaraes Carvalho addressed state oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA: Quote, Profile , Research) (PBR.N: Quote, Profile , Research) in a newspaper article, saying that in order to have its offshore oilfields protected the company could pass some of its funds to the navy so it can build new ships.
SUBMARINE CHOICE
Under the first contract with HDW signed in 1982, Brazil bought one submarine directly from Germany and built three at home using the acquired technology. It improved the fifth itself, putting it in a class of its own under the name Ticuna. The new submarine would likely be built in Brazil as well.
The navy explained its choice of the IKL-214 over another diesel contender, Scorpene, built by French arms maker Armaris, to avoid cost overlap from submarines of different origins. It denied media reports of design problems with the IKL-214 recently bought by Greece.
The deal, to be financed by European banks led by ABN-Amro, will include the construction of a ThyssenKrupp (TKAG.DE: Quote, Profile , Research) steel smelter in Rio de Janeiro as a bonus for the Brazilian side.
"It is a contradictory, complex situation. Tactically, Brazil becomes more competent with this new submarine, but strategically it postpones maybe for decades the chance to dominate a technology that it almost has," said Eurico de Lima Figueiredo, another prominent defense expert.
"Foreign powers must be happy, but is it in Brazil's interests?" he asked.
He quoted military sources as saying the navy needed $600 million to finish the prototype nuclear sub with a proper hull, which is less than a half of what is to be spent on the IKL.
"Many officers disagree with this deal," Figueiredo said.
He said that despite an absence of any concrete threat of war, Brazil needs nuclear-powered submarines to dissuade any possible aggressor.
"You have to make the cost-benefit ratio of attack unattractive. That's how major powers think," he said.
© Reuters 2006. All Rights Reserved
As a bit of submarine-related trivia (unrelated to Brazil's sub program), I understand that back in the middle 70's (prior to Iran being seized by Islamofascists), overtures were made to the U.S. by the pro-U.S. admirals in the Shah's navy, inquiring as to how or if it might be possible to purchase two older SSBN (boomer) subs, the Ethan Allen and the Thomas Edison (SSBN-608 and 610 respectively).
They were told that it would be given consideration, but no promises.
By 1979, it definitely was out of the question, for the obvious reasons.
Interesting if true.Though we've to wonder what they would have done with those boats given that they wouldnt come with the missiles nor wouldn't Iran have any-older attack boats would have made since.Anyway I remember reading that Khomenei being the idiot he was,cancelling a deal to buy upto 6 German Type-209 class boats.Those boats would have made the tanker war & the USN's intervention very interesting.
the concept of a teardrop-shaped hull of a nuclear submarine built to operate for years undetected without resurfacing.
years??????????
Yup! This is indeed true.
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