The Tamandaré Frigate, the first of four escort vessels of this size that will be incorporated into the Brazilian Navy fleet in the coming years, was launched this Friday (9). The ceremony took place in Itajaí, Santa Catarina, and was attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
President Lula, during the Launch ceremony of the Tamandaré Frigate. Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/PR
In his speech, Lula said that the project represents the modernization of the Armed Forces and the strengthening of the Brazilian defense industrial base, in addition to guaranteeing national sovereignty. “The defense industry is strategic in any country. In Brazil, it assumes even greater importance because it generates innovations and encourages research, allowing the sector to control a strategic segment from a geopolitical point of view. In addition, it encourages the development of other production chains,” he stated.
The construction of the Tamandaré Class frigates began in September 2022, at the Thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul, in Itajaí. According to the president, the program has a large participation of the national industry, involves technology transfer, generation of eight thousand direct and indirect jobs, increased tax collection at the three executive levels and the strengthening of the core of naval power for the defense of the homeland.
The president also highlighted the importance of state investments in defense and technology to guarantee national sovereignty. “It is necessary to have sovereignty in the area of defense to guarantee control over our natural resources, our sea and our pre-salt layer. [área de exploração e petróleo no mar]. Likewise, we need to have sovereignty in knowledge, technology and the ability to lead large projects, so that we do not fall behind the rest of the world,” he said.
The vessels are part of the Tamandaré Class Frigates Program, a partnership between the Brazilian Navy and the Águas Azuis consortium, formed by the German company Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer and Atech. It is managed by the Naval Projects Management Company (Emgepron), a public company linked to the Ministry of Defense through the Navy Command.
“If a country wants to be competitive and sovereign, it needs to have a State presence. A presence that does not serve to reduce the importance of private companies, but rather to develop long-term projects, to build the future without being tied to the short-term thinking of the stock exchanges,” added Lula.
The ship was named Tamandaré, the same name that applies to the class, as it is the first ship of the group. It is expected to be incorporated into the Navy in 2025. The other vessels are scheduled for gradual delivery over the next four years: the Jerônimo Albuquerque in 2026, the Cunha Moreira in 2027 and the Mariz e Barros in 2028.
The frigates will be used to protect Brazilian waters and will replace ships that have been in operation for over 40 years. The companies also want to open the doors to building vessels for other countries.
According to Defense Minister José Mucio, authorized exports in the first seven months of 2024 exceeded last year’s total, with R$8.4 billion exported. “This is already the second best result since 2001, when the historical series began,” he said. “I hope it is only a matter of time before we can count on the sale of Tamandaré Class frigates to friendly nations, contributing to our trade balance in defense product exports,” he added.
* Text changed at 17:16 to correct the title
