In Rio de Janeiro, Lula and Macron launch diesel-electric submarine into the sea – News

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and French President Emmanuel Macron participated this Wednesday (27) in the launch into the sea of ​​Tonelero, a conventional diesel-electric propulsion submarine, at the Itaguaí Naval Base (RJ). The equipment was built through Prosub (Submarine Program), in a partnership that Brazil and France signed in 2008, and is expected to come into operation next year.

The submarine is 71 meters long and has a submerged displacement of 1,870 tons. After being placed in the water, it will be subjected to testing to evaluate the stability conditions at sea and the navigation and combat systems. The submersion procedure is quick and takes about 30 minutes. The submarine can be in operation for up to 70 days and was built to reach a depth of 250 meters. The baptism gesture was made by the first lady, Rosângela da Silva, better known as Janja.

In this part of Macron’s visit to Brazil, the leaders will discuss the future of the territorial defense aquatic products program. The French president arrived in Brazil this Tuesday (26) and completed agendas in Belém (PA), accompanied by Lula. Macron heads to São Paulo this Wednesday afternoon (27) and arrives in Brasília this Thursday (28), his last day in Brazil.

Partnership

Lula and Macron must discuss the future of Prosub. The decree that established the program provides that French support for Brazil will be restricted to the design and construction of “the non-nuclear part” of the submarine. Despite this, the two countries are considering renegotiating this section.

The presidents should talk about possible cooperation from France in supplying fuel for the first conventionally armed Brazilian submarine with nuclear propulsion. The equipment is developed by the Brazilian Navy and will be named Álvaro Alberto, in honor of the Navy’s patron saint of science, technology and innovation. Delivery is expected by 2033.

The Navy also launched two submarines made by Prosub: the Riachuelo and the Humaitá. The delivery of another conventional submarine, the Angostura, and the manufacture of the Álvaro Alberto are planned. According to the Navy, this “will represent an unprecedented increase” in the technological level of national defense.

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