Argentina reviews Tamandaré frigates and Humaitá submarine after Fraterno XXXIX

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The conclusion of Combined Exercise Fraterno XXXIX marked another milestone in the co-operation and mutual trust between Argentina and Brazil. It was distinguished by the participation of two of the Brazilian fleet’s most modern and capable surface and submarine assets: the frigate Tamandaré (F200) and the submarine Humaitá (S-41), the second Riachuelo-class boat.

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Both assets operated in the Argentine Sea alongside units from the Sea Fleet and the Naval Aviation Command. Their deployment gave Argentine Navy personnel an important initial opportunity to become familiar with them, while also helping to promote in Argentina these two platforms produced under two of Brazil’s most ambitious Defence Industrial Base programmes.

Tamandaré frigates and Riachuelo submarines

At present, the Tamandaré-class frigates and Riachuelo submarines represent the new generation of vessels set to take over from the Niterói class and the Tupi/Tikuna class respectively.

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From an industrial standpoint, the capabilities gained by Brazil enable the country to offer these designs to other regional and international navies seeking to renew their fleets.

This was evident during official visits to both vessels at Mar del Plata Naval Base. Tamandaré and Humaitá arrived there after completing their participation in Exercise Fraterno and before returning to Brazil.

The Argentine Navy reported that representatives from EMGEPRON (Naval Projects Management Company) delivered a presentation and briefing to Argentine naval commanders on the “... MEKO A-100 Class Programme, a strategic Brazilian Navy initiative aimed at acquiring highly technologically complex frigates through domestic construction in that country. The programme is being developed in collaboration with the Águas Azuis Special Purpose Company, made up of TKMS, Embraer and Atech, and is managed by EMGEPRON”.

They added: “During the presentation, technical and operational aspects, management policy systems, construction, software and hardware, scope and limitations, strategic impact and costs were addressed. The Argentine authorities had the opportunity to put questions to those responsible for the projects, generating an exchange of knowledge and experience focused on the joint assessment of this type of initiative from a long-term perspective”.

This issue is far from insignificant. Sooner or later, the Argentine Navy will need to begin replacing its MEKO 360 destroyers. Only three remain in service, while the fourth, ARA Heroína, was decommissioned last year after more than a decade without sailing. There has also been no progress in the modernisation programme the service intends to advance.

PROSUB and Argentina’s submarine force

Argentine authorities subsequently visited the submarine Humaitá as well, where they “... received a briefing on the comprehensive modernisation of Brazil’s Submarine Force through the Submarine Development Programme (PROSUB), a far-reaching strategic project that seeks not only to renew the existing fleet, but also to develop indigenous technological and industrial capabilities”.

At present, as part of its assessment of designs to restore its Submarine Force, Argentina has focused on Scorpene submarines. Their design served as the basis for Brazil’s Riachuelo class, developed through the partnership with Naval Group.

Looking ahead, once construction of the four conventionally powered Riachuelo-class submarines has been completed, the Itaguaí Naval Complex will have the established capacity to begin building further units for other navies. This is particularly relevant in view of the negotiations between Argentina and Naval Group, which include the signing of a Letter of Intent.

However, several matters must be considered before the Tamandaré-class frigates and the Humaitá submarine can be regarded as options for renewing the Argentine Navy’s Sea Fleet. These include financing and the essential political will required to bring these programmes to fruition after years of assessments, visits and negotiations that have yet to reach a successful outcome.

About Tamandaré frigates and Scorpene submarines

Photographs used for illustrative purposes.